Navy recovers 2712kg of dried turmeric smuggled via sea

Contraband tumeric and suspsects

The Navy recovered 2, 712 kilos of dried turmeric during operations conducted in the Manalkulam area, Silawathura, on Thursday (04) and in Pulachchanai, Norochcholai yesterday (05). It also apprehended seven suspects.

On 04 March, the Northwestern Naval Command detected a stock of dried turmeric from a small hut in a farm Manalkulam. The contraband was stashed in 24 sacks which had about 826 kg of dried turmeric. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

Yesterday, in Pulachchanai, Norochcholai, the Navy intercepted a car, a small lorry and a motorcycle transporting 1,391 kilos of dried turmeric in 38 sacks. Five suspects involved in the racket were also taken in. It is suspected that both consignments had been smuggled into the country via sea.

The suspects were identified as residents of Silawathura, Palaviya and Wattala. They are aged between 31 and 52 years.

The suspects and the stock of dried turmeric taken in on 04 March were handed over to the Silawathura Police for legal action.

Those arrested yesterday were handed over to the Norochcholai Police for legal action.