A dinghy with 400kg of Tendu leaves held in Negombo

The Navy found a dinghy (01) loaded with about 400kg of smuggled Tendu leaves, during a search operation conducted in the Basiyawaththa area of Negombo lagoon on 25th September 2024.

On the night of 25th September, SLNS Kelani of the Western Naval Command carried out an operation in the Negombo lagoon area. The operation resulted in the recovery of an abandoned dinghy loaded with Tendu leaves. Further search efforts led to the Navy seizing 14 packages of Tendu leaves, weighing approximately 400kg, along with the dinghy.

It is suspected that the smugglers abandoned the stock due to the Navy's persistent presence in the area, which thwarted their attempts to bring it into the country. The seized Tendu leaves and the dinghy were handed over to the Excise Station – Negombo for further legal proceedings.