Navy takes hold of over 2272kg of smuggled dried turmeric in separate operations

Special operations conducted by the Navy led to the recovery of over 2272kg of smuggled dried turmeric in seas off Ariyalai, Jaffna, beach areas of Kolankanaththa in Puttalam and Yahappar in Mannar on 19th October 2021. The Navy also managed to take hold of a dinghy used for this illegal act, during the operations.

During a special operation in seas off Ariyalai in the morning of 19th October, SLNS Welusumana in the Northern Naval Command got hold of 12 sacks of dried turmeric, weighed about 601kg and 150g, abandoned by smugglers in a dinghy. Accordingly, the dried turmeric consignment and the dinghy were taken into naval custody.

In another operation mounted in the beach area of Kolankanaththa on the same day by Rapid Action Boat Squadron Headquarters in the Northwestern Naval Command 25 sacks of dried turmeric were found from bushes nearby. It is believed that smugglers might have hidden away the turmeric stock, afraid of naval operations. Incidentally, approx. 750kg of dried turmeric stock with wet weight was taken into naval custody.

SLNS Buwaneka in the North Central Naval Command and a group of Rapid Action Boat Squadron personnel in a special operation in the beach area of Yahappar on 19th October grabbed hold of 10 sacks full of dried turmeric abandoned at coastal waters afraid of naval operations. The apprehended stock of dried turmeric weighed about 912kg and 400g with wet weight.

The operation was conducted adhering to COVID-19 protocols and the consignments of dried turmeric and the dinghy held in these operations have been kept in the naval custody until they are produced for onward legal proceedings.