Navy takes hold of more than 552 kg of smuggled Tendu leaves in separate operations

The Navy took hold of over 552kg (wet weight) of smuggled Tendu leaves, during separate search operations conducted at the Uchchamunai beach in Kalpitiya, in the sea area north of Mannar, in the beach areas of Urimunai and Velliyal belonging to the Delft Island and in the Kondachchikuda beach area of Silawathura on 25th and 27th August 2024.

Accordingly, SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command held about 55kg (wet weight) of Tendu leaves in 02 sacks that had washed ashore at Uchchamunai beach on 25th August.

In another search operation in the sea area off Mannar on 27th August, SLNS Thammanna in the North Central Naval Command retrieved a parcel of Tendu leaves, weighing about 40kg (wet weight), adrift in waters. Moreover, SLNS Wasaba in the Northern Naval Command found 12 parcels washed ashore at Urimunai and Velliyal beaches of the Delft Island. The consignment of Tendu leaves stuffed in those parcels weighed about 436kg and 700g (wet weight). In addition, SLNS Therapuththa in the Northwestern Naval Command retrieved a parcel of Tendu leaves, weighing about 31kg and 200g (wet weight), adrift in Kondachchikuda beach area. Thus, these operations led to the seizure of about 552kg and 700g (wet weight) of smuggled Tendu leaves in total.

The consignment of Tendu leaves held in these separate operations has been kept in the safe custody of the Navy, until it is handed over to authorities for onward legal action.