Navy siezes nearly 5,500kg Kerala cannabis worth Rs. 1.6bn in 2022

The Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard seized over 458kg of Kerala cannabis from a dinghy along with two suspects in the sea area southeast of the Delft Island, Jaffna early this morning.

Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard regularly conduct search operations and patrols in the island’s territory to ward off illegal activities taking place via sea routes.

As an extension of these efforts, the Coast Guard Craft CG 402 attached to the Northern Naval Command, searched a suspicious dinghy in the southeast seas off the Delft Island this morning. The search led to the seizure of about 458kg and 900g (wet weight) of Kerala cannabis in 18 packages and apprehension of two suspects and the dinghy used for the smuggling.

The gross street value of seized contraband captured during this operation is believed to be more than Rs. 137 million.

The suspects who were involved in this smuggling were residents of Mandaitivu and Nachchikuda, aged 37 and 44. The suspects along with cannabis and dinghy will be handed over to the Delft Police for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, the Navy has seized over 5,479kg of Kerala cannabis in 2022 and the gross street value of the stock is over Rs.  1,643 million, the Navy said.