Two Sri Lankan nationals have been arrested by Sri Lanka Customs at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to smuggle 64 exotic pigeons into the country, officials said. The birds are valued at around Rs. 3,431,400.
The pair were apprehended on the night of Friday (July 25) as they tried to leave the airport through the “Green Channel”, reserved for passengers with nothing to declare, according to Ada Derana. Both suspects are 30-year-old businessmen from Wennappuwa who operate pet shops.
Customs officers said the pigeons had been purchased in Italy and brought to Sri Lanka via Dubai. The birds were concealed inside small metal cages hidden within six pieces of the suspects’ luggage. NewsFirst reported that the seizure was valued at over Rs. 3.4 million.
Officials said the pigeons had been imported in violation of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and the country’s animal quarantine regulations.
Sri Lanka Customs is conducting further investigations, after which the birds are expected to be returned to Italy. The case adds to a run of wildlife and contraband interceptions at the airport, where officers have flagged the Green Channel as a route frequently exploited by couriers seeking to bypass declaration requirements.
