A haul of Beedi leaves floating in the sea recovered by the Navy

A haul of Beedi leaves floating in the sea was recovered by crew members of a Fast Attack Craft and a Coastal Patrol Vessel of SL Navy, during a patrol carried out in the seas of Mannar South, today (29^th March). This recovered haul which was 1456.1 kg in weight, was packed in 33 parcels.

It is suspected that, this consignment is a smuggling attempt from India by floating over the sea. The haul of Beedi leaves is to be handed over to Customs office in Jaffna for further investigations. Further, Naval personnel attached to the North Western Naval command recovered a haul of Beedi leaves floating in Udappuwa sea area which was 1232.5 kg in weight, on last 26^th March.

Accordingly, over 8000 kg of Beedi leaves which were attempted to bring to the island on 8 times through illegal means, with 09 persons had been apprehended by the Navy within this year. As a result of the patrols and raids carried out by the Navy, many smugglers who use the sea have been seized and Navy further continues the process of foiling such smuggling attempts across the sea routes.