Navy takes hold of over 469kg of smuggled Tendu leaves in Norochcholai

A search operation conducted by the Navy led to the recovery of about 469kg and 500g of Tendu leaves in the Mampuri beach area, Norochcholai this morning (02nd April 2024). The Navy also seized a lorry (01) along with a stock of Tendu leaves, suspected to have been smuggled by sea and prepared for transportation.

The Sri Lanka Navy conducts regular search operations and patrols in the coastal areas of the island, with a view to prevent the influx of a wide range of illegal items into the island.

In continuation of these efforts, the search operation was mounted by SLNS Thambapanni in the Northwestern Naval Command in the Mampuri beach area. After searching a suspicious lorry, naval personnel recovered 16 sacks of Tendu leaves, weighing about 469kg and 500g. Accordingly, the stock of Tendu leaves and the lorry were taken into naval custody.

The consignment of Tendu leaves and the lorry were handed over to the Puttalam Police for onward legal action.