She stands accused of getting involved in the clearance of arecanut imported illegally without the levying of a fine, but at a low fee, and the issuance of 50 licenses to import secondhand vans by a private firm, among others.

Two companies had been given licenses to import arecanut from Indonesia for re-exportation to India that was started during the previous regime.

After the present government took office, several of its ministers and their businessmen friends got involved in the illegal re-exportation of arecanut.

No licenses have been issued for re-exportation, but the ministry has released the arecanut containers by imposing a fine.

Previously, that fine was Rs. 47 per kilo, and at that rate, an 18,000 kilo container load was fined Rs. 846.000.

It was later decided to charge Rs. 5,000 dollars at the request of businessmen friends.

However, the secretary in question has taken steps to release the arecanut by imposing only Rs. 100,000 per container.

She has been identified as Nouki Vichakshana, whose father too, is involved in this arecanut racket, according to information received by the PM’s office.

Named Hiran Vichankshana, he is a member of the NSB director board.

The FCID says the woman will be arrested soon after ascertaining the charges against her.

Several attempts to reach the accused over the phone failed.