Navy seizes stock of smuggled Kendu leaves in Negombo

A search operation conducted by the Navy on 29 Jul 25 led to the seizure of a dinghy with a consignment of Kendu leaves, attempted to be smuggled, approx. 583kg, at the Negombo Fisheries Harbour.

The search operation conducted by SLNS Kelani in the Western Naval Command made way for the recovery of 15 suspicious sacks in the dinghy. The sacks contained more than 583kg of Kendu leaves and the Navy took hold of the consignment along with the dinghy.

It is suspected that smugglers would have left behind the consignment due to heightened naval surveillance in the area.

The stock of Kendu leaves and the dinghy were produced to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for legal proceedings.