Navy recovers 606kg of Kendu leaf from Kalpitiya lagoon

The Navy retrieved about 606 kg (wet weight) of Kendu leaves adrift in the sea, during a search conducted close to the Mattutivu Island in Kalpitiya lagoon on Monday (24).

SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command retrieved 19 suspicious sacks drifting in waters near the Mattutivu Island, during a search conducted in the dark hours of 24th July.

The sacks contained about 606 kg (wet weight) of Kendu leaves, which were taken into naval custody.

The Navy said it belived that the smugglers had abandoned the stock of contraband kendu leaves, unable to ferry it ashore due to naval patrol.