Stock of Kerala cannabis seized

Naval patrols in Sand Banks, Mannar and the beach area of Urumalai on July 10 and on 9 led to the seizure of Kerala cannabis weighing about 113.280kg.

The operations were carried out by a team of Special Boat Squadron personnel and Marines attached to SLNS Thammanna in the North Central Naval Command during separate patrols conducted in Mannar Sand Banks and Urumalai Beach. About 105 kg (wet weight) of Kerala cannabis in 24 packages and another parcel of Kerala cannabis weighing about four kg (wet weight) piled up on the beaches of Sand Banks and Urumalai were seized.

In addition, a Inshore Patrol Craft attached to SLNS Thammanna held another parcel containing about 4.280g kg (wet weight) of Kerala cannabis during a patrol conducted off Mannar Sand Banks on July 9.

The smugglers may have abandoned these consignments at sea, unable to bring them ashore due to regular patrols by the Navy. The gross street value of this Kerala cannabis is about Rs. 33 million.

These stocks of Kerala cannabis have been kept in the custody of the Navy until they are forwarded for further legal proceedings.