Navy seizes over 2040kg of smuggled Tendu leaves in Puttalam and Norochcholai

The Navy seized over 2040kg (wet weight) of smuggled Tendu leaves, during separate operations conducted in the Puttalam lagoon as well as Palaviya and Norochcholai sea areas on 22nd and 23rd October 2024. One of the operations also resulted in the seizure of a lorry loaded with smuggled Tendu leaves.

A search operation mounted by SLNS Vijaya belonging to the Northwestern Naval Command resulted in the recovery of approx. 38kg of Tendu leaves adrift in the Puttalam lagoon on 22nd October. In addition, SLNS Thambapanni recovered 60 sacks of Tendu leaves from a lorry in the Palaviya area on 23rd October. The sacks contained about 1534kg and 900g of Tendu leaves. The lorry was also taken into naval custody.

Meanwhile, a Fast Attack Craft attached to the Western Naval Command retrieved 13 sacks of Tendu leaves weighing 467kg and 70g, during a search in the sea area of Norochcholai on 23rd October. Accordingly, the Navy recovered a total of over 2040kg (wet weight) of smuggled Tendu leaves during these operations.

The stocks of Tendu leaves held in the Puttalam lagoon and Palaviya area and the lorry were handed over to the Excise Department Office – Puttalam for onward legal action. The consignment of Tendu leaves retrieved from the Norochcholai sea area was handed over to the Port of Colombo Customs Preventive Office for legal proceedings.