A Closer Look at the Contraband Racket in Sri Lanka

Who is behind the nabbing?

The Customs have a special branch – the Biodiversity, Cultural and National Heritage Protection Branch (BCNP) – dedicated to weeding out things people try to smuggle in and out of the country. Incidentally, it is also known as the world’s first specialised cell formed within a customs administration for the purpose of safeguarding the environmental and cultural heritage of a country, and by extension, the world (which means that they also act as watchdogs for illegal goods coming into the country and also during transit).

How it works

Speaking to the BCNP, it was understood that it worked on a system of tip-offs and vigilance, particularly for suspicious behaviour. For instance, in 2014, based on a tip off the customs detected the largest ever shipment of contraband rosewood, valued at over Rs.1 billion. After two months of vigilance, keeping an eye on suspected ships from African countries stopping by Sri Lanka en route, they located four containers out of six, in addition to 24 other containers, also of rosewood.

How the smugglers try to make it work

What is “illegal”?

According to the BCNP, they keep an eye out for items that are prohibited, like antiques and items that are restricted, and certain flora and fauna which require permits from relevant authorities. The Archaeological Department added that the sale of items of archaeological value cannot be prevented within Sri Lanka but taking such items out of the country is prohibited.

Smuggling Archaeological Artefacts

According to the Archaeological Department, most of the items seized by the Customs were originally bought from antique shops, sold by independent parties or in some cases, particularly when it comes to rare Buddha statues, sold by monks themselves.

“There are some old items like jewellery that walawwa owners have, which are personal items, and these are sometimes sold to antique shops. The sale is permissible but even such personal items cannot be taken out of the country,” an official from the Archaeological Department stated.

The Customs has managed to seize priceless items like statues of Hindu gods dating back to the 19th century, Buddha statues cast in ivory, ebony and bronze, old furniture like a writing bureau with ebony carvings dating back to the 17th century and Kasthana swords.

Smuggling Flora and Fauna

The Department of Wildlife pointed out that Walla patta (agarwood) used in perfumes is currently what people attempt to export illegally the most. Apart from that, wild karapincha, sandalwood (red sanders and white) and kothala himbitu are also in great demand.

BCNP added that where fauna is concerned, due to heavy commercialisation, different types of fish are exported for ornamental use, along with turtles, lobsters, Indian pangolin, sea cucumber and edible bird nests.

What’s in the museum?

Quite obviously, the museum isn’t home to any of the above captured fauna but there’s more to it than the list above. Attempts have been made to smuggle leopard skin, python skin, snake skin handbags and briefcases, monitor lizard tambourines, various preserved insects, stuffed birds, rhino horns, preserved green turtles, snake wine (used for medicinal purposes), elephant tusks, turtle shell ornaments, elephant hair jewellery, carved/polished turtle shells, peacock feather fans, an extensive collection of preserved butterflies and even samples of plant DNA. Phew.

You can also find many items made of ivory, including (the irony!) ivory elephants and Buddha statues, storage jars dating back to 1 – 2 century, jewellery and coins among many other things.

Where items like elephant tusks are concerned, the BCNP added that they are destroyed and disposed of according to law.

Is the smuggling business always so nefarious?

The answer is undoubtedly a yes (particularly when you think of those 180 elephants that had to die to satiate a few greedy collectors), but the Archaeological Department also pointed out that tourists unwittingly buy mementos of value. Yet they pointed out that a lot of business people, under the pretence of not knowing the law, also attempt smuggling.

“The value of these items is, to be honest with you, beyond valuation. These items don’t have a price, we cannot possibly value history,” the Department said.

The same goes for our biodiversity or biodiversity in general, it should be added, despite the obvious attempts of countless smugglers. So if you have the time and energy, drop into the Customs museum (keep in mind their restrictive opening times) and you will find yourself, at the same time, awed at the collection and incensed by the lengths and result of human greed.