Eleven persons engaged in illegal acts apprehended by Navy
 

Navy apprehended 11 persons engaged in illegal acts at several locations in the island during the past few days. Accordingly, the suspects were held for engaging in illegal fishing, transportation of Kerala cannabis and possession of turtle meat.

Based on information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command in coordination with the China Bay Police apprehended two persons engaged in illegal fishing using the explosives of water gel sticks in the general area of Thoradi, Trincomalee yesterday (18 March). Along with the two suspects 50 water gel sticks have also been seized. The suspects and explosives were handed over to the China Bay Police for onward legal action.

On receipt on information to the Northwestern Naval Command, naval troops of the command held a person with illegally harvested 245 sea cucumbers, during a search carried out at the Sinnakuduirippu fisheries harbour, Kalpitiya on 17 March. The suspect was attempting to transfer the sea cucumbers by a van when the apprehension was made. The apprehended person and sea cucumbers were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of Puttalam for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, based on a tip-off received by the Eastern Naval Command, naval personnel belonging to the command together with Trincomalee Division Vice Squad apprehended 2 suspects who were transferring 1kg of Kerala cannabis by a three wheeler at Kiripattiya Junction, Trincomalee on 17 March. The suspects who are residents of Andankulama and Trincomalee areas were handed over to the Trincomalee Police along with the cannabis in their possession for legal action.

During a joint raid carried out by the naval personnel attached to the Northwestern Naval Command in coordination with Silawathura Police, a suspect was held with 2.5kg of turtle meat and a live sea turtle weighing 30kg. The apprehended person, turtle and turtle meat were handed over to the Silawathura Police for further investigations.

A group of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command recovered two unauthorized fishing nets (62m and 30m) and an electric torch from the beach area of Kadiraweli on 16 March. They were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Trincomalee for onward action.

Meanwhile, a person was apprehended by the Navy for practicing illegal fishing using dynamite in the sea area south of Mannar on 16 March. The apprehension was made while the suspect was on an attempt to transfer 437kg of illegally caught fish by a Bolero cab in the beach area of South Bar. The suspect was identified as a resident of Mannar. The suspect along with the stock of fish and cab was handed over to the Mannar Assistant Director of Fisheries for onward investigations.

On the same day, naval troops attached to the Northwestern Naval Command held 4 persons engaged in illegal fishing activities using unauthorized fishing nets in the sea area of Andankalliya and Kakaduwa in Kalpitiya. Accordingly, 3 dinghies, 19.5kg of unauthorized fishing nets and 6kg of illegally caught fish were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghies and other fishing gear were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of Puttalam for further investigations.