Navy seizes over 60,000 illegal sea cucumbers, arrests 26 in Mannar

Mannar, July 09 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Navy has seized more than 60,000 illegally harvested sea cucumbers and arrested 26 suspects during a special operation in the South Bar area off Mannar today (9).

Acting on intelligence, personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command, together with naval patrol craft, intercepted the illegal consignment while it was being transported this morning.

During the operation, the Navy also took into custody 12 fiberglass dinghies (FGDs) and 12 outboard motors (OBMs) believed to have been used in the illegal harvesting and transportation of the protected marine resource.

The apprehended suspects, along with the seized sea cucumbers, dinghies and outboard motors, were handed over to the Mannar Fisheries Office for onward legal action.