Navy nabs 04 suspects for involvement in illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers

The Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 04 individuals along with a haul of 437 sea cucumbers during a search operation conducted in the sea off South Bar, Mannar, on the morning of 04 Mar 26. The search operation also led to the seizure of a dinghy used for this illegal act.

The operation was carried out by SLNS Gajaba, belonging to the North Central Naval Command. During the search operation, naval personnel intercepted the suspicious dinghy and discovered that the occupants were engaging in illegal night diving to harvest sea cucumbers.

The suspects held in this operation were identified as residents of Mannar, from 32 to 48 years of age. Those suspects, along with sea cucumbers, diving gear and the dinghy, were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for onward legal action.