Navy held 58 persons engaged in illegal acts
 

Sri Lanka Navy assisted to apprehend 34 persons engaged in illegal acts at various locations in the island during the past few days. These suspects were held for engaging in illegal fishing, destroying mangroves and possession of high explosive.

Accordingly, Naval personnel onboard a craft on patrol, attached to the North Western Naval Command apprehended 02 persons who engaged in illegal fishing activities using banned nets in Rodapadu sea area on last 10^th Sep. A banned net and a dinghy were also taken in to naval custody. The suspects along with the banned net and the dinghy were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Puttalam for onward action.

A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 21 persons who engaged in illegal fishing with banned nets, in the seas off Lankapatuna and Koneswara Kovil on 10^th Sep. Four dinghies and four banned nets were also taken into naval custody. The suspects along with the dinghies, nets and other fishing gears were handed over to Fisheries Inspectors of Verugal and Trincomalee for necessary legal action.

Troops of Naval personnel onboard two Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command on patrol apprehended 10 persons engaged in illegal fishing with banned nets in the seas off Round island and Koneswara Kovil, on 11^th Sep. Two dinghies, 03 banned nets and 70 Kg of caught fish were nabbed and they were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for necessary legal action.

Meanwhile, on 11^th Sep., 12 persons who were practicing illegal fishing with prohibited nets in Verugal area in the Eastern Naval Command, were apprehended. Two dinghies, two banned nets and other fishing gears held by Navy were handed over to Verugal Fisheries Inspector along with the suspects.

Two persons (02) who engaged in illegal fishing activities in Kalladichena area were nabbed by a naval troop attached to the Eastern Naval Command on last 12^th Sep.  Illegal catchment 15 Kg fish, a banned net and a Vallam (traditional boat) were also held by Navy. The apprehended items along with the suspects were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Puttalam for legal action.

Further on 12^th Sep, a Naval troop attached to the North Central Naval Command whilst on foot patrol in Vankale beach area nabbed four (04) persons who were cutting mangrove hedges. A knife used by them and 48 sticks of cut mangrove were held by the Navy.  The suspects along with the items were handed over to Vakare Police for legal action.

On information provided by the SL Navy, a person who possessed 9.88 g of heroin was apprehended by a group of Police personnel attached to DIG office Jaffna, at Kondavil area in Jaffna on 13^th Sep. The apprehended person along with heroin was handed over to Kopai Police for onward legal action.

 A person who possessed high explosive was apprehended by a Naval troop attached to the Northern Naval Command with the assistance of STF personnel of Kilinochchi, on last 14^th Sep. Accordingly, 4350 kg of TNT and 3295 kg of C-4 explosive possessed by the suspect were taken into Naval custody and the suspect along with the held stock of explosive was handed over to Palei Police for legal proceedings.

Further, Six persons who engaged in illegal fishing in Rodapadu area without fishing passes, were apprehended by a naval troop attached to the North western Naval Command, on 14^th Sep. There, 1480.5 kg of dried Sea Cucumber and three dinghies were taken into naval custody and they were handed over to Assistant Director of  Fisheries-Puttalam for onward legal action.