34 persons held by Navy for engaging in illegal acts
 

Sri Lanka Navy assisted to apprehend 34 persons engaged in illegal acts at various locations in the island during the past few days. These suspects were held for engaging in illegal fishing and possession of explosive and selling of sedative drugs.

Accordingly,a troop of  Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 02 persons who possessed explosive used for illegal fishing, during a raid carried out in Kokkadi area, Sampoor on 3^rd  July. There, 170 capsules of water gel, a dinghy and some fishing gears were also nabbed. The suspects, dinghy and nabbed fishing gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for necessary legal action.

 Naval personnel attached to the North Western Naval Command apprehended 06 persons who engaged in illegal fishing activities in Arrippu sea area on last 3^rd July. 416 Kg of caught fish (Para), a banned net and a dinghy were also taken in to Naval custody. The suspects along with the stock of fish, banned net and the dinghy were handed over to Fisheries Inspector-Mannar for onward action.

 A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command on foot patrol in lagoon area Batticaloa recovered 15 banned nets on last 3^rd July and they were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries- Batticaloa for necessary legal action.

 Meanwhile, Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command apprehended six persons (06) who engaged in illegal fishing activities in the seas off Point Pedro on last 3^rd July.  Illegal catchment of Sea Cucumber 1084 in number, two conch shells and two dinghies were also nabbed and they along with the suspects were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Point Pedro for legal proceedings.

 Further on 4^th July, a banned net was recovered a in Sandy Bay area by  a Naval troop  attached to the Eastern Naval Command and it was handed over to  the Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for legal action.

 On 5^th July, 15 persons who engaged in illegal fishing were apprehended by a troop attached to the Eastern Naval command while on patrol, in the seas off Paul Point. Two dinghies, two banned nets and fishing gears were taken into Naval custody and these items along with the suspects were handed over to Assistant Inspector of fisheries-Trincomalee.

 On information received to the Navy, 2 persons who were transferring narcotic drugs to put on the market, was apprehended during a raid carried out in Kaththalampiddi area by a Naval troop attached to the North Central Naval Command with the assistance of STF personnel of Kilinochchi and Mankulam Police, on 5^th July. Accordingly, 26 Kg and 990 g of Kerala Cannabis possessed by the suspects were taken into Naval custody and the suspects along with the held stock of KG were handed over to Illupukadawai Police for legal proceedings.

 Six (06) banned nets were taken into Naval custody during a raid carried out in the lagoon area of Batticaloa by Naval personnel attached to Eastern Naval Command on 7^th July. The nets were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries-Batticaloa for onward legal action.

 Further, on information received by the Navy, three persons who possessed explosive to be used for illegal fishing were apprehended by a Naval troop attached to Eastern Naval Command, at Valachchanai Fisheries Harbour, on 7^th July. Four gelignite sticks, a dinghy and few fishing gears were also taken into Naval custody and the suspects along with the apprehended items were handed over to Police STF-Batticaloa for further investigation.