Navy assists to apprehend 39 persons engaged in illegal activities
 

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 39 persons engaged in illegal acts at several locations in the island during the past few days. These suspects were held for engaging in gold smuggling, illegal fishing, unauthorized transportation of pigeons and illegal transportation of sand.

Accordingly, based on received information, a naval troop attached to the Eastern Naval Command recovered 66 kg of fish which had been caught using illegal gelignite, on 2^nd April. Three Oxygen cylinders and 200g of explosives had also been taken into naval custody. The recovered stock of fish and other gears were handed over to the Director of Fisheries-Muttur for onward legal action.

On the same day, based on a tip-off received, naval personnel attached to North-Western Naval Command nabbed two persons who had brought 26 pigeons through illegal means to Sri Lanka from India. A dinghy used for transportation of pigeons was also apprehended. The suspect, dinghy and other gears were handed over to Directorate of Customs-Jaffna for onward legal action.

Based on information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command in coordination with the Anti Corruption Unit of Trincomalee Police apprehended a person with 4 capsules of gelignite prepared for illegal fishing, in a raid carried out in Erakkandi area on 4^th April. The suspect along with the gelignite was handed over to the Kuchchaweli Police for onward action.

Naval troops of the Eastern Naval command held thirty two (32) persons who were engaging in illegal fishing in the seas off Chapel island and Foul Point on 4^th April. Four dinghies, 4 banned nets and 165 kg of caught fish were also taken into Naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghies, fishing net and fish were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries of Trincomalee for legal action.

Meanwhile, based on a tip-off received by Eastern Naval Command, naval personnel belonging to the command apprehended a person who was transporting sea sand without a permit, during a raid carried out in coordination with Pulmude Police on 7^th April. Sand lord of 3 cubes and the lorry used for transportation were also taken into Naval custody and they were handed over to Pulmude Police for further investigation.