Navy takes hold of smuggled stock of Kendu leaves in Norochcholai

The Sri Lanka Navy took hold of a smuggled consignment of Kendu leaves weighing about 400kg (wet weight), during a special operation carried out in the sea area of Alankuda in Norochcholai, Kalpitiya on the morning of 07th March 2023. The consignment was adrift in the sea area when it was spotted by the Navy.

The Navy conducts regular search operations to thwart smuggling activities and a wide range of illegal activities take place in the coastal and sea areas around the island. Engaged in a search operation, the Inshore Patrol Craft P 220 attached to SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command took hold of 08 suspicious packages adrift in Alankuda sea area on the morning of 07th March. Accordingly, the Navy retrieved those packages and found that the packages had been stuffed with Kendu leaves weighing about 400kg (wet weight).

It is believed that the smugglers may have left this stock of Kendu leaves in the sea area due to constant naval operations. Meanwhile, the stock of contraband was handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for onward legal proceedings.