Navy arrests two with 485 kgs of Kerala Ganja

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Two suspects had been arrested with a stock of 485kgs of Kerala cannabis by the Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard during two search operations carried out in the northern seas on Saturday, Navy Spokesman Isuru Sooriyabandara said.  

He said naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command, on patrol in the sea area of Manalkadu on Saturday intercepted a suspicious dinghy and apprehended two suspects along with a stock of Kerala Cannabis. “Similarly, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and officers of Sankanei Excise Station have also seized several parcels of Kerala cannabis adrift in the sea area of Maradankeni. They also managed to find a suspicious dinghy left behind at the beach. As such, about 485kgs of Kerala cannabis, two suspects and two dinghies have been taken into custody during these two operations,” the spokesman said  

The suspects aged 30 and 34 have been identified to be residents of Pesalai and, Mannar. He said the Jaffna Police Narcotic Bureau  and Kankasanthurai police are conducting further investigations into these incidents.  

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy had seized approximately 2 tonnes of Kerala cannabis during naval operations conducted at sea and on land during the past 75 days of this year.  
Accordingly, the navy seized 1,682 kg of Kerala cannabis from the Northern Naval Command, 181 kg from the North Western Naval Command, 19 kg from the Southern Naval Command, 21 kg from the North Central Naval Command and 10kg of Kerala cannabis from rest of the Naval Commands taking the total to a staggering amount of 1913kg. Accordingly, 69 suspects have been taken into custody, this year alone, the spokesman said.    

The total amount of cannabis seized is a staggering 1913kg. during the past 75 days of this year