Navy assists to apprehend twenty nine (29) persons for engaging in illegal activities
 

Sri Lanka Navy assisted to apprehend 29 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.

Accordingly, 13 persons who engaged in illegal fishing in Uppural and Kallady areas were apprehended by a troop of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command on 14th Oct. There,400 kg of fish catchment, 03 banned nets and 04 dinghies were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons along with the stock of fish and the fishing gears were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Verugal for onward action.

A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended nine persons (09) who engaged in illegal fishing in Punadi area on last 16th Oct. Three dinghies, a banned net, 750 kg of illegal fish catchment were also nabbed and these items along with the suspects were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector-Verugal for legal proceedings.

During last 19th and 20th, 41 banned nets were recovered by a troop of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command whilst on patrol in the lagoon area of Batticoloa. The recovered nets were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Batticoloa for onward action.

Meanwhile, seven (07) persons who were practicing illegal fishing, 1.1 nautical miles East of the Round Island were apprehended by a troop of Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval command on 19th Oct. Two banned nets, a dinghy and other fishing gears possessed by them were also nabbed by the Navy. The apprehended fishing gears along with the persons were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for onward legal action.

Further, the crew of a naval craft attached to the North Central Naval Command whilst on patrol on 20th October, recovered twelve (12) suspicious sacks which were floating in the sea area 3 nautical miles off Pesalai. While on further search, 748.04 kg of Beedi leaves were found in the sacks and that haul of Beedi leaves were hand over to Custom-Jaffna for legal action.