Navy assists to apprehend 54 persons engaged in illegal acts
 

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended fifty four (54) persons who were engaging in various illegal acts at different locations in the island. These suspects were held for illegal fishing, selling narcotic drugs and engaging in fishing without valid fishing passes.

Accordingly, a troop of Naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command apprehended sixteen persons (16) who engaged in illegal fishing activities in the Vedithalathiu beach area on last 23^rd July. 391 nos. of Sea Cucumber, 04 Walllam and other fishing gears possessed by them were also taken into naval custody and these items along with the suspects were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Vedithalathiu for legal action.

Naval personnel attached to North Western Naval Command apprehended four persons who engaged in illegal fishing activities with expired fishing passes in the seas off Kallaru area, on 25^th July. A dinghy and other fishing gears used by them were also taken into Naval custody, and these items along with the suspects were handed over to Fisheries Inspector-Mannar for onward legal action.

Eleventh (11) persons who were engaging in illegal fishing practices in the beach between Iranamathanagar and Yahappar areas were apprehended by Naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command on last 25^th July.  Accordingly, 53 nos. of Sea Cucumber, 03 dinghies and other fishing gears were taken into naval custody and the suspects along with the nabbed items were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Killinochchi for onward legal action.

Further on 26^th of July, twenty (20) persons who engaged in illegal fishing around the Elephant Island and in Mulathivu sea area had been nabbed by a Naval troop attached to the Eastern Naval Command. Along with the persons 06 dinghies, 451 Kg of fish catchment and 12 banned nets were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghies, banned nets and the fish catchment were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee and Mulathivu for legal proceedings.

A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command on foot patrol in lagoon area Batticoloa recovered twenty (20) banned nets on last 26^th  July and they were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Batticaloa for necessary legal action.

A troop of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command with the assistant of Kuchchaweli Police recovered 12 pieces of swan Satinwood in different length which were hidden in Gopalapuram area and this stock of wood  were handed over to Kuchchaweli Police for onward legal action. Further, on the same day a naval troop attached to the Eastern naval command in coordination with Police STF apprehended 02 persons who were transferring 06 cartoons of illegal cigarettes, at the front gate of Cod bay Fisheries harbour and the suspects along with haul of cigarettes were handed over to China Bay Police for legal action.

 Meanwhile, a naval troop attached to North Central Naval Command, apprehended a person who was selling narcotic tablets in Madavachchiya town, on last 28^th July. 1460 nos. of tablets possessed by him also taken into naval custody and these tablets along with the suspect were handed over to the Food and Drug Inspector-Anuradhapura for onward legal action.