Navy seizes 618 kg of smuggled Kendu leaves in Puttalam raid

In a crackdown on smuggling activities, the Sri Lanka Navy took hold of approx. 618 kg of smuggled Kendu leaves during a search operation conducted in the Periyapadu area of Puttalam on 05 May 26.

Acting on information received by SLNS Thambapanni in the Northwestern Naval Command, naval personnel carried out a search operation in the coastal vicinity of Periyapadu where they recovered the stock of Kendu leaves packed into 20 sacks, loaded onto a cab ready for transportation. The operation also resulted in the apprehension of 02 suspects in connection to the illegal act and seizure of the cab.

The suspects held in this operation were identified as residents of Kottanthivu in Puttalam, aged between 27 and 46. The suspects along with the seized items were handed over to the Puttalam Excise Department for onward legal action.