The Customs Department has reported information to court to in order to arrest the mastermind behind the smuggling of waste tea abroad tarnishing the reputation of Sri Lankan tea.

A Customs spokesman told Hiru news team that a request was made to the court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the suspect.

Information has come to light regarding a racket of exporting waste tea to foreign countries.

It has been revealed that the tea has been exported to foreign countries under the pretext of exporting chilli powder and rice powder.

Four containers containing 70,000 kilograms of waste tea were seized in Dubai recently and are due to be brought to Sri Lanka on the 23rd of this month.

Previously, 160 containers of junk tea were exported to Iraq.

The main suspect in this case is a person who has been charged previously.

However, a senior spokesman of the Customs Department told our news team that although the main suspect had been summoned to court by the Customs on several occasions, he had avoided courts by submitting medical reports.

He is a resident of Kolonnawa and is reportedly taking legal action to prevent his arrest.

Three persons have been arrested in connection with the exports and remanded till the 19th of this month.

A customs spokesman told Hiru news team that there were two wharf clerks among them.