Navy takes hold of more than 410kg of smuggled Tendu leaves in separate operations

The Navy took hold of about 410kg and 800g (wet weight) of smuggled Tendu leaves, during separate search operations conducted in the beach and sea areas of Mannar and Kalpitiya on 10th and 11th August 2024.

Accordingly, SLNS Pussadewa in the North Central Naval Command held about 35kg (wet weight) of Tendu leaves in a sack, washed ashore at Achchanakulam beach on 10th August. Meanwhile, SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command recovered 03 sacks of Tendu leaves, weighing about 97kg (wet weight) from the Paramunai beach vicinity in Kalpitiya.

In another search operation in the sea area off Mannar and Urumalai beach area on 11th August, SLNS Thammanna belonging to the North Central Naval Command retrieved 32 parcels which were adrift in waters and washed ashore. The parcels contained Tendu leaves weighing around 243kg (wet weight). Moreover, SLNS Gajaba took hold of a parcel lying on the beach of Nadukuda in Mannar and recovered about 35kg and 800g (wet weight) of Tendu leaves in it. Thus, these operations led to the seizure of about 410kg and 800g (wet weight) of smuggled Tendu leaves in total.

The consignment of Tendu leaves held in these separate operations were handed over to the Murukkan Police, Excise Special Unit of North Western Province, Talaimannar Police and Mannar Police for onward legal action.