Navy renders assistance to arrest persons engaged in illegal activities
 

Sri Lanka Navy took 44 persons into custody for engaging in illegal acts at separate locations in the island. Accordingly 41 persons practiced illegal fishing and 03 suspects for keeping illegal drugs in their possession were arrested by the Navy.

Based on intelligence information received, naval troops attached to the Eastern Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel in Pulmoddai managed to arrest a person practiced illegal fishing using explosives at Jinnapuram in Pulmoddai on 23rd October. The arrest was made while the suspect was transferring 700 kg of fish by a lorry. The arrested person, stock of fish and lorry were handed over to the Pulmoddai Police for onward action.

Following intelligence information, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel in Pulmoddai arrested 02 persons for engaging in illegal fishing using unauthorized fishing nets on 24th October. The raid to arrest these persons was carried out at Jinnapuram locality in Pulmoddai. During the arrest, troops seized a dinghy, 02 pairs of diving fins and 04 diving masks as well. The arrested persons and fishing equipment were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector in Kuchchaveli (North) for further investigation.

In the same vein, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel in Pulmoddai arrested 02 persons engaged in illegal fishing using explosives at Kallarawa in Nilaveli on 25th October. The suspects were transferring 485 kg of illegally caught fish when they were arrested by the Navy. The arrested persons, stock of fish and lorry were produced before the Kuchchaveli Police for further investigations.

Meanwhile, on receipt of an intelligence tip-off, naval personnel attached to the Western Naval Command together with STF officials attached to the Bambalapitiya Police nabbed 02 suspects with 2,000 prescription tablets of Tramadol, during a raid carried out at Kadirana Watta in Mattakkuliya on 25th October. The seized tablets of Tramadol were handed over to the Mattakkuliya Police for onward legal action.

Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 28 persons for engaging in illegal fishing using unauthorized fishing nets in the sea area off Kokkuthuduwai on 26th October. Along with the persons 08 dinghies, 03 unauthorized fishing nets and 500 kg of illegally caught fish were taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons and fishing gear were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Mullaitivu for onward action.

Based on intelligence information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command in coordination with STF officials in Sardhapura, nabbed a suspect with 800 prescription tablets of Tramadol, during a raid conducted in Nilaveli on 26th October The seized tablets were handed over to the Nilaveli Police station for onward legal action.

Further, naval personnel belonging to the same Naval Command arrested 08 more persons engaged in illegal fishing using banned fishing nets in Pulmoddai seas on 27th October. Two dinghies, 03 banned fishing nets and 193 kg of illegally caught fish were also taken into custody along with the suspects. The arrested persons and items were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Trincomalee for further investigations.