Sri Lanka Customs has urged the public not to fall victim to automobile smugglers, warning of significant financial losses and confiscation of illegally imported vehicles, as the country’s ban on vehicle imports remains strictly enforced.
The Customs highlighted a growing trend of dismantled luxury vehicles being smuggled into the country and cleared through fraudulent means. The Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) has intercepted multiple attempts to import high-value cars concealed in containers.
The latest incident involved a reconditioned Toyota Prius packed in a 40-foot container from Japan, seized by Customs officials yesterday. The container, which arrived at the Colombo Port in early November, was detained on suspicion after the importer failed to claim it. Upon inspection, the illegal vehicle was discovered.
Director of Customs RTF Thilak Suraweera stated that recent seizures also include a Mercedes Benz, a BMW, and several hybrid cars smuggled in violation of the Customs Ordinance and Import and Export Control regulations.
The government’s vehicle import ban, in place since 2020, prohibits the import of most vehicle classes, with few exemptions for essential categories. Customs officials caution that smuggled vehicles, often sold at seemingly attractive prices, pose legal risks and financial losses to unsuspecting buyers.
