INTERVENTION BY SRI LANKA COAST GUARD: THWARTING THE ILLICIT SEA SMUGGLING OF KENDU LEAVES

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel, stationed at Coast Guard Station Chilaw, apprehended an individual who was attempting to smuggle a shipment of 331.7 kilograms of Kendu Leaves into the country through sea routes by using Fiber Glass Dinghy.

The suspect, along with the contraband, was apprehended during a specialized search operation conducted off the Marawilla area on May 18, 2023, at approximately 9:30 am. The shipment, which consisted of 10 polythene sacks, was intercepted with the assistance of Sri Lanka Coast Guard intelligence personnel and Sri Lanka Navy Marine sailors from CGSS Maoyamoya.

The arrested individual and the confiscated items were subsequently handed over to the Customs Sub Preventive Office at Katunayake for further legal proceedings.