The Navy has managed to seize over 4,150 kg of smuggled dried turmeric and apprehend 16 suspects involved in the racketeering during special operations conducted in the Northwestern and North Central Naval Commands.
The operations had been carried out on 30 and 31 October.
Upon noticing the suspicious behaviour of a group of individuals during a patrol carried in the beach area of Erambugodella in Ettalai, Puttalam, the Northwestern Naval Command had interrogated them, which had led to the seizure of a stock of smuggled dried turmeric.
Accordingly, 2,042 kg of dried turmeric contained in 65 sacks, a lorry, a motorbike, and five suspects had been seized during the operation.
Meanwhile, during another operation in the Periyakadu beach area in the early hours last Saturday, the Navy had taken hold of another stock of smuggled dried turmeric brought to the shore by two dinghies while it was being loaded to a lorry.
Further investigations into the incident led to the recovery of three more dried turmeric sacks hidden by the racketeers in a house nearby.
Accordingly, the operation had paved the way to seize another 1,600 kg of dried turmeric stuffed in 45 sacks, two dinghies, a cab, and eight suspects.
The North Central Naval Command, upon spotting a suspicious dinghy off the Vankalai beach in Mannar in the dark hours on 30 October, intercepted the dinghy as it was reaching the beach the following day.
On receipt of further information from the racketeers, the Navy had been able to find 508 kg of turmeric in eight sacks jettisoned into the water with the intention of smuggling into the island later. The Navy has also held three suspects and the dingy during this operation.
The accused persons were identified as residents of Puttalam, Ettalai, Konthantivu, Madurankuliya, Palavi, and Mannar, aged between 20 and 64 years.
All the special operations had been conducted adhering to strict safety and health guidelines.
After having disinfected the consignment of turmeric, the suspects along with the seized items were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake and the Mannar Police Station for onward legal action.
Accordingly, 2,042 kg of dried turmeric contained in 65 sacks, a lorry, a motorbike, and five suspects had been seized during the operation.
Meanwhile, during another operation in the Periyakadu beach area in the early hours last Saturday, the Navy had taken hold of another stock of smuggled dried turmeric brought to the shore by two dinghies while it was being loaded to a lorry.
Further investigations into the incident led to the recovery of three more dried turmeric sacks hidden by the racketeers in a house nearby.
Accordingly, the operation had paved the way to seize another 1,600 kg of dried turmeric stuffed in 45 sacks, two dinghies, a cab, and eight suspects.
The North Central Naval Command, upon spotting a suspicious dinghy off the Vankalai beach in Mannar in the dark hours on 30 October, intercepted the dinghy as it was reaching the beach the following day.
On receipt of further information from the racketeers, the Navy had been able to find 508 kg of turmeric in eight sacks jettisoned into the water with the intention of smuggling into the island later. The Navy has also held three suspects and the dingy during this operation.
The accused persons were identified as residents of Puttalam, Ettalai, Konthantivu, Madurankuliya, Palavi, and Mannar, aged between 20 and 64 years.
All the special operations had been conducted adhering to strict safety and health guidelines.
After having disinfected the consignment of turmeric, the suspects along with the seized items were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake and the Mannar Police Station for onward legal action.