Eleven persons arrested for engaging in illegal activities
 

Sri Lanka Navy arrested 11 persons for engaging in illegal activities in separate locations in the island over the last few days. The suspects were taken into naval custody for getting involved in illegal acts such as; illegal fishing, transferring Kerala cannabis, and possessing turtle meat.

Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command arrested 4 persons for engaging in illegal fishing practices using unauthorized fishing nets in the sea areas of Vellamanal and Lankapatuna on 17^th October. Along with them, 5 unauthorized fishing nets, 3 underwater lights, 1 diving mask and a pair of diving fins were also taken into custody. The arrested persons and fishing nets were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Trincomalee for onward investigations.

Based on intelligence information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Northwestern Naval Command nabbed a person transferring 13 kg of turtle meat by a bicycle near Malwathu Oya Bridge in Silawathura on 18^th October. The suspect along with turtle meat was handed over to the Silawathura Police for onward action.

Following an intelligence tip-off, naval personnel attached to the Western Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel in Rajagiriya carried out a raid in Kelaniya on 18^th October and apprehended a person transferring 9 kg of Kerala cannabis by a motor car. The suspect, cannabis and the motor car were handed over to the Kelaniya Police station for further action.

Meanwhile, P 142 and P 233 Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Northwestern Naval Command arrested 5 persons for engaging in illegal fishing using unauthorized fishing nets in the sea areas of Kudiramalai and Uchchamunai on 19^th October. Apart from the suspects 2 dinghies, 2 unauthorized fishing nets and a stock of illegally caught fish were also taken into custody. The arrested persons, dinghies and other fishing gear were produced before the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Puttalam for onward investigations.

On receipt of intelligence information to the Navy, a group of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command recovered a consignment of explosives concealed in the general area of Lankapatuna yesterday (22 October 2017). The consignment included 04 water gel explosive capsules, 03 non electric detonators and 1 foot safety fuse which are believed to be used in illegal fishing activities.