Navy seizes suspected smuggled spices and conch shells in Kalpitiya

The Sri Lanka Navy seized a consignment of dried turmeric, cardamom husks and conch shells suspected to have been smuggled into the country during a search operation in the Ilanthadiya coastal area of Kalpitiya this morning, 29 September 2026.

The operation was conducted by personnel attached to SLNS Vijaya, under the Northwestern Naval Command. During the search, naval personnel inspected 15 suspicious sacks that had been abandoned in the coastal area. Accordingly, they found 138kg of dried turmeric, 80kg of cardamom husks and 370 conch shells inside the sacks, believed to have been left behind by smugglers due to heightened naval surveillance.

The seized items were subsequently handed over to the Kalpitiya Police for onward legal action.