Navy nabs 07 persons for illegal night diving and transporting sea cucumber without licence

The Sri Lanka Navy conducted separate operations in the Urumalai beach area of Talaimannar and at the Mandaitivu T Junction roadblock in Jaffna on 25th and 26th October 2023. The operations led to the apprehension of 07 persons for their involvement in night diving and transporting sea cucumber without valid licence. During these operations, the Navy also held 620 sea cucumbers, 01 dinghy and 01 three-wheeler.

A search operation carried out in the Urumalai beach area on the night of 25th October by SLNS Thammanna in the North Central Naval Command led to the apprehension of 05 individuals for their involvement in illegal night diving, whilst searching a suspicious dinghy at the beach. In addition, naval personnel also held 120 illegally harvested sea cucumbers, the dinghy and diving gear used for this illegal act.

Meanwhile, SLNS Welusumana in the Northern Naval Command intercepted a suspicious three-wheeler at the Mandaitivu T Junction roadblock on the evening of 26th October and recovered 500 sea cucumbers being transported without valid licence. Incidentally, 02 persons in the vehicle, the three-wheeler and sea cucumbers were taken into the naval custody.

The suspects held in these operations were identified as residents of Talaimannar and Jaffna, from 18 to 43 years of age. The suspects, dinghy, three-wheeler and diving gear were handed over to the Mannar Fisheries Inspector and Kayts Police for onward legal action.