Navy seizes over 485kg of smuggled Kendu leaves in Talaimannar

A search operation conducted by the Navy on 29 Jun 25 led to the seizure of a dinghy with a consignment of smuggled Kendu leaves exceeding 485kg, at the Old Pier beach area in Talaimannar.

The search operation was conducted by SLNS Thammanna in the North Central Naval Command. Thus, naval personnel recovered 16 suspicious sacks in the dinghy, believed to have been left behind by smugglers due to heightened naval surveillance in the area. The sacks contained more than 485kg of Kendu leaves and the Navy took hold of the consignment along with the dinghy.

The stock of Kendu leaves and the dinghy were produced to the Office of Excise Department in Mannar for legal proceedings.