Three held for smuggling pigeons, African love birds, flying squirrels

Colombo,February 5 (Daily Mirror)- Three suspects were arrested in Pesalai, Mannar during a joint operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, for smuggling pigeons, African love birds and flying squirrels into the island.

The Navy said the operation also led to the seizure of a lorry being used for the smuggling racket. 
 
Based on information received by SLNS Thammanna in the North Central Naval Command, the operation was conducted with the assistance of the Divisional Crime Detective Bureau Mannar in the Pesalai area. 

The arrest was made after searching a lorry in which 220 pigeons, 20 African love birds and eight flying squirrels as well as 230 tablets and 40 bottles containing medicines were recovered. 

The suspects held during this operation were identified as residents of Dambulla and Colombo, aged between 25 and 44. The suspects, together with animals and the lorry were handed over to the Mannar Police for onward legal action.