Navy assists to apprehend 23 persons engaged in illegal activities
 

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 23 persons engaged in illegal acts at several locations in the island during the past few days. Accordingly, the suspects were held for engaging in illegal fishing and diving, transportation of Kerala cannabis.

Based on information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Northen Naval Command in coordination with the Police STF-Jaffna apprehended three (03) persons with 10.35 kg of a powder drug contained cannabis (Mawa) in a raid carried out at Jaffna town on 22^nd March. The suspects along with the drugs were handed over to the Jaffna Police for onward legal action.

On receipt of information to the Northwestern Naval Command, naval troops of the command held four (04) persons who were engaging in illegal fishing at Daluwa sea area in Puttalam on 23^rd March. Two dinghies, a banned net and 37 kg of caught fish were also nabbed. The apprehended persons, dinghies, fishing net and fish were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of Puttalam for legal action.

Meanwhile, based on a tip-off received by the Northwestern Naval Command, naval personnel belonging to the command apprehended three (03) suspects engaged in unauthorized diving practices in Udappuwa sea area on 24^th March. A dinghy and few diving gears were also apprehended. The persons with the apprehended gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries of Puttalam for further investigation.

On the same day, naval troops attached to the Northwestern Naval Command held three (03) persons engaged in illegal fishing activities using unauthorized fishing nets in the sea area of Baththalangunduwa. Accordingly, a dinghy, 3 unauthorized fishing nets were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghy and fishing nets were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of Puttalam for legal action.

Meanwhile, eight (08) persons who practiced illegal fishing using dynamite in the sea area of Keeramunei in Chalaipadu, along with two dinghies and 1800 kg of fish were apprehended by the Naval personnel attached to North Central Naval Command, yesterday (25 March). The suspects, two dinghies and the stock of fish were handed over to the Director of Fisheries-Kilinochchi for onward legal action.

On information received, sailors attached to the Northwestern Naval Command in collaboration with Vanathawilluwa Police nabbed two (02) persons who were transferring 1.9 Kg of Kerala Cannabis on a motor bike at the causeway across Malwattu Oya yesterday (25^th March). The suspects who are residents of Puttalam area, their motor bike and the stock of cannabis were handed over to Vanathawilluwa Police for legal action.