Navy collars 05 suspects with 2554kg of Kendu leaves in Negombo and Mawanella

In coordinated efforts, the Sri Lanka Navy, along with the Negombo Excise Department and the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB), carried out separate raids in Kochchikade and Mawanella areas on 10 Apr 25. The operations led to the confiscation of around 2,554 kg of smuggled Kendu leaves, along with 02 lorries and 01 van used to transport those smuggled items. The Navy also apprehended five individuals in connection to these incidents.

In a joint search operation on the night of 10 Apr, SLNS Kelani belonging to the Western Naval Command and the Negombo Excise Department intercepted a suspicious lorry in Kochchikade, Negombo. During the raid, authorities discovered approximately 992kg of Kendu leaves packed in 32 sacks. Accordingly, 02 suspects in connection to this incident were apprehended and the vehicle used for the illegal transport was also seized.

Moreover, about 697kg of Kendu leaves, stashed in a building as well as another 865kg stock of Kendu leaves made ready for tobacco production, were recovered during a similar operation carried out by SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command with the assistance of PNB in the Mawanella area. The operation also led to the arrest of 03 suspects and seizure of 01 lorry and 01 van.

The suspects held in these operations were identified as residents of Nittambuwa, Warakapola and Mawanella areas, from 39 to 58 years of age. The suspects held in Kochchikade, together with Kendu leaves and the lorry, were handed over to the Excise Department Office in Negombo. Further, those suspects, Kendu leaves and the vehicles held in Mawanella were handed over to the Excise Department Office in Kegalle for legal proceedings.