Fourteen (14) persons taken into naval custody for engaging in illegal activities
 

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 14 persons for engaging in illegal activities at separate locations in the island over the last couple of days. Accordingly, these suspects were arrested for illegal possession of timber, transferring Kerala Cannabis and engaging in illegal fishing practices.

Based on intelligence information received, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command arrested a person with cleaved satinwood timber hidden in a house, during a raid carried out at Kumburupiddi in Nilaweli on 11 October. The 23 pieces of timber were 125 feet in total length. The arrested persons and the stock of timber were handed over to the Kuchchaweli Police for onward action.

Naval personnel attached to the Coast Guard in Valachchenai Fisheries Harbour, during a search conducted on 12 October, apprehended 4 persons with an illegally caught Whale Shark. The shark that was weighing 170 kg was recovered from a dinghy. According to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, it is prohibited to catch this rare species of shark. The apprehended persons along with the shark were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries in Batticaloa for further legal action.  

Naval personnel attached to the Northwestern Naval Command arrested 8 persons for engaging in illegal fishing practices using unauthorized fishing nets in the lagoon area of Palakuda and seas of Karaitivu on 11 and 12 October. Along with the suspects 2 dinghies, 6 unauthorized fishing net and, 13 kg of illegally caught fish were taken into naval custody. The arrested persons, dinghies and other fishing gear were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries in Puttalam for onward investigations.

Naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel in Medawachchiya apprehended a person for possessing 350 g of Kerala Cannabis during a raid conducted in Thalgahawewa region in Rambewa on 13 October.  The suspect was transferring Kerala Cannabis by a motor bike when the arrest was made. The apprehended suspect, cannabis and the motor bike were handed over to the Medawachchiya Police for further investigations.