Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 33 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 and selling of prohibited drugs.

Based on information received by the Navy, naval personnel attached to the Northen Naval Command in coordination with the Police STF-Jaffna apprehended two persons who were selling narcotics at Cey-Nor Jetty in Karainagar on 26nd June. There, 16 g of Cannabis which possessed by them were taken into naval custody and then suspects along with the drugs were handed over to the Jaffna Police STF for onward legal action.

A Naval troop attached to the Northwestern Naval Command, held 2 persons who were engaging in illegal fishing at Wanathavilluwa sea area in Puttalam on 26th June. A Wallam (traditional boat) and a banned net were also nabbed. The apprehended persons, Wallam and the fishing net were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector- Puttalam for legal action.

Meanwhile, Naval personnel of Northwestern Naval Command apprehended 2 suspects engaged in illegal fishing practices in the lagoon area of Chilaw on 28th June. A dinghy and two banned nets were also apprehended. The persons with the apprehended dinghy and nets were handed over Fisheries Inspector -Puttalam for legal action.

Fifteen persons who were engaging in illegal fishing activities in the seas off Point Pedro were apprehended by a Naval troop of Northern Naval Command whilst on special sea patrol, on 28th June. Accordingly, 2591 nos of Sea Cucumber, 04 nos of Conch Shells and 6 dinghies, were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons along with the Sea cucumber, conch shells and dinghies were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Point Pedro for legal action.

Six banned nets were recovered at lagoon area of Batticaloa by a naval troop attached to Eastern Naval Command on patrol, on 29th June and they were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries-Batticaloa for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, 3 persons who practiced illegal fishing in the sea area of Panadura, along with a dinghy, 06 Kg of caught lobsters, 08Kg of Sea Cucumber, 25 Kg of fish were apprehended by the Naval personnel attached to Western Naval Command, on 29th June. The suspects and the apprehended items were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Panadura for onward legal action.

A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 09 persons who engaged in illegal fishing around the sea area of Norway Island, yesterday (1st July). A dinghy, a banned net and 123 Kg of caught fish were also taken into naval custody. The suspects, dinghy, nabbed stock of fish and other gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for onward legal action.