Sri Lanka Customs inspectors at Katunayaka airport yesterday seized 15 kilograms of glyphosate, a pesticide banned in the country by the President to avoid kidney disease risk.
The hoard of banned substance was nabbed from the possession of a woman (54), her daughter (26) and a man at interception by the Customs officers at the airport. They were arrested at BIA after arriving on the flight UL 124 from Chennai. The illegal glyphosate in solid form were found concealed in their luggage in 100 gram packets, which were shrewdly concealed under their clothes, Sri Lanka Customs sources said.
The suspects were fined Rs 250 000. The women suspects are said to be residents of Manipai, Jaffna. The male suspect is from Malwana area, the sources said.
Sri Lanka Customs has nabbed 275 kilograms of glyphosate in fifteen interceptions they have carried out at BIA during the last four weeks.