Navy renders assistance to arrest persons engaged in illegal activities
 

The Navy has rendered assistance to take 22 suspects including a woman into custody for engaging in illegal activities at several locations of the country.  Accordingly, 16 persons engaged in illegal fishing activities, 4 persons including a woman possessing Kerala Cannabis and 2 suspects possessing heroin were apprehended by the Navy.

Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command arrested 8 persons for engaging in illegal fishing activities in the seas off Lankapatuna, Salpayaru and Kokkadi using unauthorized fishing nets and explosives on 14th and 15th September.  Along with the suspects, a dinghy, 2 unauthorized fishing nets, 33 water gel sticks, a non electric detonator and 324 kg of illegally caught fish catch were taken into naval custody. The arrested persons, fishing gear and explosives were handed over to the Muthur Fisheries Inspector, Assistant Fisheries Director of Trincomalee and Kuchcheweli Police for onward legal action.

Eight (8) more persons engaged in illegal fishing activities using unauthorized nets in Erukkulampiddi and Palakuda lagoon area in Mannar were arrested by the naval personnel attached to the North Central and Northwestern Naval Commands on 13th and 16th September. During the arrest, 3 dinghies and 3 unauthorized fishing nets were taken into custody. The arrested persons and their belongings were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of Mannar and Putalam for further investigations.

On receipt of information to the Navy, a group of naval personnel attached to the Southern Naval Area in coordination with Police Special Task Force, Katharagama and Deniyaya nabbed 3 suspects with 3.340 kg of Kerala Cannabis. The suspects, cannabis and the three-wheeler used for cannabis transportation were produced to the Police stations of Thanamalwila and Weligama for onward action.

On information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Western Naval Command in coordination with Wattala Police arrested a woman aged 22 with 2.2 kg of Kerala Cannabis during a search carried out in Wattala locality on 12 September 2017. Following the tip-off received, the officials searched the residence of the woman and seized the consignment of cannabis. The suspect and the consignment of cannabis were handed over to the Wattala Police for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, based on information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Western and Northern Naval Commands in collaboration with Bambalapitiya and Jaffna Police Special Task Force managed to nab 2 suspects with 2.650 g of heroin and 1,000 tablets of prescription drug, Tramadol in Orugodawatta and Jaffna towns respectively. The apprehended suspects along with illegal drugs, the three-wheeler used to transfer the same and Rs. 5,180 of money were handed over to the Dematagoda and Jaffna Police for further investigations.