By Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
A port employee involved in a racket of stealing and selling ‘Smart Keys’ from vehicles imported into the country through the Hambantota International Port, along with an outside party who purchased the keys, have been arrested. According to the Hambantota Port Police, the duo was produced before the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court on the 11th and remanded until the 22nd of this month.
Following an extensive investigation by the Hambantota Port Security forces regarding the disappearance of these Smart Keys, suspicion arose regarding an individual employed at the port. Consequently, the employee was taken into custody by security officers and handed over to the Hambantota Port Police for further investigation.
Under the instructions of Inspector of Police (IP) Ajith Priyantha, OIC of the Hambantota Port Police, investigations conducted by the Crime Investigation Bureau and interrogations of the port worker revealed that the stolen Smart Keys were sold to a businessman in the Kurunegala area at various prices starting from Rs. 6,000, depending on the vehicle model. Police investigations confirmed that the suspect port employee had earned over Rs. 1.5 million by selling approximately 45 Smart Keys within a few months. Furthermore, based on statements given by the arrested port employee, the police arrested the businessman in Kurunegala, who admitted to purchasing the Smart Keys. Police also managed to take the Smart Keys in his possession into custody.
Such organized thefts occurring at an international-level port breach the trust held by international shipping lines and importers regarding port security, severely damaging the nation’s reputation as well as the overall economy. Moreover, the loss of vehicle components and keys imposes a heavy financial loss on both importers and insurance companies.
Investigations by the port security forces and the police revealed that this racket had been taking place since local vehicle imports first commenced at the Hambantota Port. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing under the guidance of Hambantota Port Police OIC IP Ajith Priyantha, while an official from the Hambantota Port Security stated that a special program is being implemented to detect and prevent such thefts within the port premises.
