Navy seizes dried Sea Cucumber and contraband

A search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy off Sinnaarichchalai, Kalpitiya on Thursday night led to the apprehension of two suspects along with about 193 Kgs of dried Sea Cucumber and several other contraband items being smuggled. The Navy also seized a dinghy used by the suspects, for this illegal act.

A team of Navy Marines attached to SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command conducted this search using small craft in the sea area of Sinnaarichchalai on May 18. Accordingly, naval personnel intercepted a suspicious dinghy approaching the beach and recovered the contraband items aboard.

Among the recovered items were about 193 Kgs of dried Sea Cucumber, 33,600 shampoo packets (6 ml each), 198 balm vials (50g each), 1 A/C plant and 1 Voltage Stabilizer (230 V). Thus, the suspects, contraband items and the dinghy were taken into naval custody. The two suspects along with the items seized during this operation were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for further legal action.