Navy foils attempt to smuggle stock of Kerala cannabis by sea, 02 suspects apprehended

The Navy apprehended 02 persons attempting to smuggle a stock of drugs belonging to the category of Kerala cannabis to the island by sea, during a special coordinated search operation conducted with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard in northern seas on 24^th June 2020.

Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular operations to prevent illegal drugs being smuggled to the island via sea routes. During a similar operation in northern seas in the wee hours on 24th June, the Northern Naval Command with the assistance of Sri Lanka Coast Guard, searched a suspicious dinghy and found 57.275kg of drugs belonging to the category of Kerala cannabis. The suspects together with the haul of cannabis were taken into naval custody by following proper hygiene and decontamination procedures due to COVID – 19 global pandemic.

The apprehended persons are 33 and 39 years of age. The accused along with the dinghy and the haul of cannabis were handed over to the Kayts Police for onward legal action.

The street value of the stock of cannabis is estimated to be about Rs. 5.5 million. Meanwhile, the Navy has seized around 2911kg of substance belonging to the category of Kerala cannabis during the first 06 months of this year.