Navy renders assistance to apprehend 15 persons engaged in illegal acts and recover 3 dead bodies of drowned persons
 

The Navy apprehended 15 persons for engaging in illegal acts at different locations in the country over the last couple of days. Further Navy assisted in recovering 3 dead bodies of drowned persons. The suspects who involved in illegal fishing, keeping intoxicated drugs and sold Kerala cannabis were accordingly taken into naval custody.

On receipt of intelligence information, naval personnel attached to the Southeastern Naval Command apprehended 2 suspects with 7 tortoises during a search conducted at Thureineelavanei lagoon area on 13th November. The apprehended suspects along with tortoises were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Kalmunei for onward legal action.

Naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command apprehended 4 persons who were suspected for engaging in illegal fishing practices using explosives in Pallemunai, Mannar on 14th November. The Navy also seized a dinghy, 4 pairs of diving fins, 3 unauthorized fishing nets and 812 kg of illegally caught fish. The apprehended persons, dinghy and fishing gear were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Pallemunai for further investigations.

On the same day, naval personnel attached to the same naval command apprehended another 4 persons for engaging in illegal fishing using banned fishing nets in the sea area of Sand Dune IV, Mannar. Along with the persons, a dinghy, a banned fishing net and 350 kg of illegally caught fish stock were taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons and their belongings were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries in Mannar for onward action.

Based on intelligence information received by the Navy, naval troops attached to the Western Naval Command in coordination with the officials of Food and Drugs Control Office-Colombo conducted a search in Dematagoda town area and nabbed 2 persons who were selling Pregabalin capsules on 14th November. The officials have seized 987 capsules of the drug kept in their possession by the suspects. The suspects together with seized capsules were produced before the officials of Food and Drugs Control Office in Colombo for onward legal action.

Following an intelligence tip-off naval personnel attached to the Western Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel attached to the Thummulla Police took 2 persons into custody on charge of keeping 3 kg 700 g of Kerala cannabis in their possession, during a raid carried out in Colombo 03 on 14th November. The arrest was made while the suspects were transferring cannabis to sell by a motorbike. The arrested suspects, cannabis and motorbike were handed over to the Colombo Fort Police for onward action.

Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command managed to find 41 pressure mines and 19 safety fuses during a search conducted in Janakapura on 14th of this month. Meanwhile, based on information received from a civilian, a Makarov Pistol, a Magazine and 21 Pistol Ammunitions have also been recovered.

Further, on receipt of intelligence information, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command together with STF personnel in Trincomalee arrested a suspect with 2kg 200 g of Kerala cannabis after a raid on Nachchikuda area in China Bay on 15th November. The arrest was made while the suspect was transferring cannabis to sell by a motorbike. The arrested suspect, seized cannabis and motorbike were handed over to the China Bay Police for onward investigations.

The Navy also assisted to recover dead bodies of 03 persons who drowned at separate locations in the country on 14th and 18th of this month. Accordingly, the dead bodies were found from Mankadawala Weva in Kekirawa, Lolugama River in Galagodawatta and Ahungalla Beach.