Another bid to smuggle Kerala cannabis thwarted, three arrested

Suspects with contraband (pic courtesy Navy media)

A special operation conducted by the Navy in the seas north of Kovilam, Jaffna a, yesterday (6) morning led to the detection of about 98.5 kilos of Kerala cannabis. Three suspects were arrested along with a dinghy.

The Navy headquarters said patrols had been increased to thwart illegal activities including smuggling of drugs via sea routes. “During an operation on Tuesday (6), the Inshore Patrol Craft P 011 of the Northern Naval Command intercepted a suspicious dinghy in seas north of Kovilam, while it was heading ashore. It was later found the dinghy was carrying four sacks of Kerala cannabis weighing about 98.5 kilos (wet weight). Along with the consignment of Kerala cannabis, three suspects and the dinghy were taken in to naval custody.

 The Navy said it believed that the smugglers had transferred the stock of Kerala cannabis to the dinghy at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) to smuggle them into the country. The street value of the seized stock of Kerala cannabis is around Rs. 29 million.

 The operation was conducted in keeping with COVID-19 prevention protocol.

The three suspects arrested were identified as residents of Kiranchi, Pesalai and Pooneryn. They along with the stock of Kerala cannabis and the dinghy would be handed over to the Kayts Police for onward legal action, the Navy said.