The Sri Lanka Navy seized about 989kgs (wet weight) of dried turmeric, during separate search operations carried out off Gurunagar and Mandaitivu, Jaffna on Thursday. The search operations also led to the arrest of four suspects in connection to the rackets.
The Navy remains ever alert and conducts patrols and search operations in the coastal areas of the island to prevent an influx of contraband. As an extension of these efforts, the Inshore Patrol Craft deployed by SLNS Kanchadewa in the Northern Naval Command had spotted a suspicious dinghy off the Mandaitivu Island on January 19. During the search of the dinghy, the Navy detected 496 kgs and 054 g (wet weight) of dried turmeric (in 14 sacks) being smuggled and arrested two suspects with the dinghy used for the illegal act. Further, naval personnel also retrieved about 48kg and 030g (wet weight) of dried turmeric (in one sack) thrown overboard by the suspects.
Meanwhile, the Navy Marines attached to SLNS Welusumana also searched a suspicious dinghy off Gurunagar January 19. The search has led to the seizure of 12 sacks stuffed with smuggled dried turmeric, weighing about 445kg and 800g (wet weight). The Navy also nabbed two suspects involved in the illegal act and the dinghy used for the same purpose.
The suspects apprehended in these search operations were identified as residents of Mannar and they are in the 33 to 51 age group. The accused together with the stock of dried turmeric (weighing about 989 kgs and 884g in wet weight) and the two dinghies will be handed over to the office of Jaffna Customs for further legal proceedings.
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