The Sri Lanka Navy has seized over 836kg of smuggled Kendu leaves during separate operations carried out off Paramunai and Kudawa beach areas in Kalpitiya.
According to the Navy, the sting operations had been conducted yesterday (30) and today (01).
The search operations also led to the apprehension of 01 dinghy and 02 persons in connection to the acts of smuggling.
The Navy stated that SLNS Vijaya belonging to the Northwestern Naval Command intercepted a suspicious dinghy, during a search conducted off Paramunai last night. When searched, the Navy recovered 17 sacks of Kendu leaves weighing about 550kg and 750g and took them into custody along with the dinghy and 02 suspects involved in the racket.
Meanwhile, SLNS Vijaya also recovered about 286kg and 200g of smuggled Kendu leaves, in 09 sacks, from the Kudawa beach, during a search carried out in the area this morning (01st May).
The Navy stated that the suspects held are residents of Anawasala in Kalpitiya, aged 18 and 23.
The accused along with the total consignment of Kendu leaves held in both operations and the dinghy were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for legal action. (NewsWire)