While a large-scale operation was carried out to import luxury Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) and Benz vehicles under the guise of tractors, the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) stated that investigations into the matter have been completed and that action has been taken against those responsible.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (31 March), the Commissioner General (CG) of Motor Traffic Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe stated that the incident occurred more than a decade ago and that the investigation has been fully completed. He also mentioned that those responsible for the racket have been penalised.

“This incident was discussed at the recent Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting, which is how it came to light. It happened years ago, and the DMT has taken steps to penalise the responsible officers,” he said.

A recent investigation by the Auditor General’s Department and the COPA revealed a large-scale fraud involving the illegal importation of 158 BMW and Benz vehicles. Authorities stated that these luxury vehicles had been falsely declared as tractors using forged documents to evade regulations and taxes. As a result, officials from the DMT were summoned before the COPA for further inquiry. 

Meanwhile, the COPA has reportedly instructed the DMT to submit a detailed report on the registration of these fraudulently imported vehicles.