A consignment of smuggled goods apprehended in Kalpitiya

The Navy seized two dinghies with a consignment of contraband goods believed to have smuggled by sea, during a special search operation conducted in the beach area of Mohoththuwaram, Kalpitiya, on the evening of March 3.

The Navy often conducts patrols and search operations in the coastal and sea areas of the island, to ward off the influx of contraband via sea routes.

The naval establishment SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command made this apprehension during a special search operation carried out in the coastal waters of Mohoththuwaram on March 3.

Accordingly, the naval personnel engaged in this operation searched two suspicious dinghies at the beach and recovered a consignment of contraband goods believed to have smuggled by sea. Among the seized items were: 15 kg of dried sea cucumber, one kilo of cardamom, 14 kg of dried cashew, 10 kg of rice, 248 kg of sugar, 100 kg of wheat flour, three kilos of dried fish, 270 packs of coffee, 680 packs of cosmetic products and 2,930 soap bars.

The two dinghies and the contraband seized in this operation were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office – Katunayake for onward action.