Navy seizes 235 kilos of Kerala cannabis in Kalpitiya

During a special operation conducted in the northwestern and western waters of the island on Friday (07), the Navy seized 235 kg of Kerala cannabis being smuggled into the country from India.

During a patrol in the seas off Kudiramalei Point in the northwestern seas, the Navy spotted an Indian fishing vessel in Sri Lankan waters across the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with seven Indian nationals on board, the Navy said.

Further search of the vessel led to the seizure of over 235 kilos of Kerala cannabis in 118 packages contained in six sacks.

The seized stock of Kerala cannabis, which the navy believes to be smuggled into the country, is estimated to be worth over Rs. 70 million.

In a separate patrol in the seas off Negombo on the same day, the Navy intercepted a suspicious dinghy approaching the shore and seized about 522 kilos of onion seeds in 20 packages in the dinghy. The two Sri Lankan suspects who attempted to smuggle this consignment into the country were held during this patrol, along with the dinghy used for this illegal act.

The Navy has intensified patrols to curb the smuggling activities via sea routes as well as to prevent the risk of the transmission of the pandemic within the country, as a result of smuggling activities and possible illegal immigration attempts towards Sri Lanka.