Abortion drugs worth millions seized at BIA

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Illegally imported medicine including pills used for abortion worth Rs. 2 million was seized by the Customs Preventive Office personnel at the Air Cargo Terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake yesterday, Customs sources said.

The medicine had been imported by a local businessman who had not registered with the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Authority (CDDA) to import it. The drugs were not on the list of approved medicines of the CDDA.

The medicine in 51 packages had arrived in the country on August 31. The importer who had declared the goods as vitamins had tried to clear the consignment by paying Rs.14,496 as duty.

Customs Spokesman Director, Leslie Gamini said that the officials at the Preventive Office on suspicion opened the packages and found the medicine. The consignment contained illicit drugs such as Killpreg, Festol, Tranzex50, Mucomix and Hisone 10. Director Customs Preventive K.A.D.R. Christie, Chief Assistant Preventive Officer Lalantha Rajapaksa, Assistant Preventive Officers Duncan Hettiarachchi, D.M.G. Daniel, U.D.J. Monty, Amila Fernando, J. K. Arambawela and Milinda Jayasooriya are conducting investigations.