The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 1,400 sea cucumbers and three boats while arresting seven suspects during two separate operations in Mannar and Jaffna.
The first interception took place Wednesday (16) in the Yahappar area of Nachchikuda, where naval personnel attached to SLNS Buwaneka in the North Central Naval Command stopped a boat.
Three suspects were arrested after 550 sea cucumbers were found being transferred without valid permits.
Four more suspects were arrested Thursday (17) during an operation by Naval Deployment Veththalakerni of the Northern Naval Command in the Kudarippu beach area.
The Navy said the four suspects had been engaged in harvesting sea cucumbers through unauthorized night diving. Two boats and a further 850 sea cucumbers were seized during the operation.
The suspects, aged between 29 and 46, are residents of Mannar and Jaffna.
The suspects, boats and seized sea cucumbers were handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources offices in Kilinochchi and Jaffna for further legal proceedings. (Newswire)
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