SLN foils 1263 kilos of turmeric smuggling racket via sea
April 23, 2021Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) nabbed 05 suspects with over 1263 kilos of turmeric during an attempt to smuggle into the island via North West and Western seas from 17 to 20 Apr.
Initially, the SLN Western Naval Command captured two suspects with 461 kilos and 500 grams of dried turmeric in 14 sacks with two dinghies in Munnakkarai lagoon area in Negombo on Apr 17, the SLN said.
In a similar operation, North Central Naval Command also nabbed two suspects with 543 kilos and 700 grams of dried turmeric in 15 sacks after searching a suspicious dinghy in seas off Kudiyiruppu on Apr 19, the SLN also said.
Meanwhile, another operation led by the same Naval Command arrested two suspects with 258 kilos and 500 grams of dried turmeric in four sacks after searching a suspicious dinghy in seas off Pesalai on Apr 20.
Smugglers aged between 22 to 44 are residents of Pesalai and Negombo areas.
The suspect held in Negombo together with the stock of turmeric and the dinghy was handed over to the Customs Preventive Office, Katunayake, for onward legal action.
Meanwhile, the accused held in Kudiyiruppu and Pesalai were handed over to the Mannar Public Health Inspector for quarantine procedure.
Further, the stocks of dried turmeric and the dinghies seized during those operations were handed over to the Customs Office-Jaffna for onward legal action.
All these operations were carried out, adhering to safety guidelines stipulated for the prevention of COVID-19.
