Other Contraband

A local multi-day fishing trawler and 05 suspects held for smuggling bird and reptile species in southern waters

In a significant crackdown on wildlife smuggling, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha to seize a local multi-day fishing trawler and apprehend 05 suspects involved in smuggling of several bird and reptile species. The operation was mounted in the southern waters on 07th July 2024.

09 Jul 2024

A suspect with 3000 foreign cigarettes held in Colombo

A combined search operation conducted by the Navy and Colombo Central Divisional Crime Detective Bureau near the gate of Port City today (06th July 2024) led to the arrest of a suspect with about 3000 foreign cigarettes.

06 Jul 2024

Navy recovers cache of commercial explosives in Muthur

A search operation conducted by the Navy on Norway Island off Muthur on 28th April 2024 led to the recovery of a cache of explosives hidden in a ramshackle building in the area. Among the recovered items were 02 water gel sticks - a type of commercial explosives, 01 non-electric detonator, a 25 cm long safety fuse and 150g of TNT explosive.

30 Apr 2024

Navy nabs 02 suspects with smuggled stock of cashew nuts and ginger in Kankasanthurai

A special search operation conducted by the Navy in Awalsandi beach area in Kankasanthurai on 08th April 2024 led to the apprehension of 02 suspects with over 50kg of cashew nuts and more than 205kg of dried ginger. These items, believed to have been smuggled via sea routes, were found in a three-wheeler (01) which was also taken into the naval custody.

08 Apr 2024

A suspect nabbed with cache of herbicide and insecticide in Kalmunai

A combined operation conducted by the Navy and Police STF in Nintavur on 27th March 2024 led to the apprehension of a suspect (01) and seizure of a cache of herbicide and insecticide made ready for sale in a retail shop.

28 Mar 2024

Navy apprehends a suspect with commercial explosives in Mannar

A special search operation carried out by the Navy with Police in the Pallemunai area, Mannar this morning (21st February 2024) led to the arrest of a person with 650 water gel sticks – a type of commercial explosive. The arrest was made while the suspect was carrying them in a bus.

21 Feb 2024

A person held in Mannar for illegal possession of 3621 conch shells

A coordinated search operation carried out by the Navy and Police in Naayaathuweli of Andankulam, Mannar on 15th February 2024 led to the arrest of a person for illegal possession of 3621 conch shells which were not within the legally accepted limit.

16 Feb 2024

Navy apprehends 03 for shell fishing in Kalpitiya seas

The Navy apprehended 03 individuals who engaged in shell fishing, during a search operation conducted in the Ippantivu sea area of Kalpitiya on 25th January 2024. Meanwhile, the size of the seized conch shells (about 1856) was not within the legally accepted limit. The Navy also held the dinghy used for this illegal act.

26 Jan 2024

Three (03) persons held in Mannar for illegal possession of 14,163 conch shells

The Navy and Police apprehended 03 individuals for the unlawful possession of 14,163 conch shells, during a search operation conducted in Irukkalapmpiddi, Mannar on 15th January 2024. The suspects were taken into custody as the size of the seized shells was not within the legally accepted limit.

18 Jan 2024

Navy retrieves over 04kg of gold from Puttalam Lagoon

A special search operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy near the Baththanangunduwa Island on 08th December 2023, led to the recovery of a parcel weighing over 04kg of gold from the depths of Puttalam Lagoon. It is suspected that the valuable cache of gold has been intentionally sunk underwater by smugglers. The operation also led to the apprehension of 02 suspects and 01 dinghy, believed to be linked to the racket.

09 Dec 2023