Navy seizes large stock of foreign cigarettes off Delft

The Sri Lanka Navy recovered a substantial haul of foreign cigarettes and other cosmetic and wearable items during a search operation conducted in seas south of Delft, Jaffna, on 03 Dec 25.

The operation was carried out by SLNS Wasaba of the Northern Naval Command, which detected nine (09) suspicious sacks adrift in the area. Upon inspection, the sacks were found to contain approximately 160,000 foreign cigarettes, 150 packs of cosmetic products, and 10 wrist watches, believed to have been attempted to be smuggled into the island.

It is believed that the consignment may have been abandoned at sea due to the Navy’s intensified surveillance efforts targeting illegal maritime activities in the region. The seized items were subsequently handed over to the Delft Police for onward legal action.