A team of Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel arrested two persons transporting a haul of Walla Patta herb near the Anilkanda tea factory in Deniyaya today.
Almost 5 kilograms of the endemic plant, valued at around Rs 75000, and the three-wheeler used for transporting it was also taken into custody.
The arrested suspects and goods have been handed over to the Deniyaya Police Station for onward action, the STF said.
Scientifically known as Gyrinops walla, the endemic plant is traditionally used for medicinal purposes.
However, it produces a resinous substance called Agarwood, which fetches a high price in other countries as it is used in the production of perfumes.
Transportation or possession of the plant, which only grows in certain parts of the island, is prohibited.
The commercial value of this tree came to light with the recent attempts to illegally fell and smuggle it to extract Agarwood.
Three Bangladesh nationals were arrested in Ratnapura in February for the possession of over 6 kilograms of the plant while in May the STF recovered 13,499 kilograms of the herb, worth around Rs 200 million, and arrested 6 suspects including 2 Indian nationals during a raid in Kolonnawa.
