Navy seizes over 836 Kgs of Kendu leaves in Kalpitiya

The Navy seized over 836 Kgs of smuggled Kendu leaves during separate operations carried out off the Paramunai and Kudawa beach area in Kalpitiya on Sunday and Monday. The search operations also led to the seizure of one dinghy and arrest of two persons.

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

As a result of these efforts, SLNS Vijaya belonging to the Northwestern Naval Command intercepted a suspicious dinghy, during a search conducted off Paramunai on Sunday. The Navy subsequently seized 17 sacks of Kendu leaves weighing about 550Kgs and 750g and took them into custody along with the dinghy and two suspects involved in the racket.

Meanwhile, SLNS Vijaya also recovered about 286Kgs and 200g of smuggled Kendu leaves in nine sacks from the Kudawa beach, during a search carried out in the area last morning (01).

The suspects are residents of Anawasala in Kalpitiya, aged 18 and 23 respectively. The accused along with the Kendu leaves seized in both operations along with the dinghy were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for further legal action.