Navy nabs 14 persons engaged in illegal activities
 

Navy apprehended 14 persons engaged in illegal activities during the past few days across the country. Accordingly, they were held by the Navy for engaging in illegal fishing and possessing drugs, Kerala Cannabis, banned fishing nets.

On receipt of information, Naval personnel attached to the Western Naval Command with the assistance of the officials of Anti Narcotic Unit at Narahenpita apprehended 03 persons who possessed 50 intoxicant tablets( Feel tablets) and 25g of KG during a raid carried out in Mahabage area on 24^th April. They were caught while selling the drugs on a motor bike. The suspects, drugs and the motor bike were handed over to Anti Narcotic Unit of Narahenpita for onward action.

Meanwhile, following a tip-off received, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command in collaboration with Kuchchaweli and Gomarankadawala Police, held 06 persons whilst transporting a fish stock of 1991Kg of Giant Trevally fish ( Para) which had been caught using explosive, on three lorries. The apprehended suspects, stock of fish and lorries were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Trincomalee for onward legal action.

On information received by the Navy, a troop of naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command, nabs 04 persons who were engaging in illegal fishing using dynamite in Pallimunei area on 26^th April. A stock of 230 Kg of caught fish was also taken into Naval custody. The suspects are residents of Mannar area and they, along with the caught fish were handed over to Fisheries Inspector Mannar for further legal action.

Further, eighteen banned fishing nets which had been hidden in the lagoon area of Batticola, were recovered by the naval personnel attached Eastern Naval Command during raids carried out on 25 and 27 April. These nets are 100m, 150m, 200m and 300m in length. The suspects along with the nets were hand over to Assistant Director of Fisheries in Batticola for further investigation.

On receipt of information, naval personnel attached to Northern Naval Command in coordination with STF personnel of Jaffna Police and Officials of Fisheries Inspectorate Jaffna apprehended a person with 1663 Kg of banned fishing nets during a raid conducted in Jaffna town on 26^th April 2018.. The suspect along with the hoard of banned nets was handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for onward legal action.