The Customs Department after a five-day search operation recovered 74, 480litres of Ethanol being smuggled into the country in seven container loads declared as Bitumen (tar).
Seven container loads of tar arrived in the country last week was transferred to Orugodawatta container yard for checking purposes due to suspicion and found barrels of Ethanol hidden among barrels of Bitumen.
All seven containers were unloaded to find the contraband worth Rs.82million. The government incurred a revenue loss Rs.112million since the consigner had evaded paying duty. The goods had falsely been declared as tar evade taxes, Customs Spokesman Director Leslie Gamini said.
The consignee a trader from Bandaragama had been arrested in connection with the case. Customs is continuing investigations. Ethanol is used to prepare alcoholic beverages.