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Smuggling op from Maldives busted; electric items among goods seized
Among the items smuggled were electric items, clothing, scents and food items such as tinned fish and sweets.
A racket of smuggling goods from Maldives to Sri Lanka has been busted.
The coast guards at the Beruwala fishing harbour have detained six fishermen for violating customs regulations by bringing goods and equipment from Maldives via sea route.
On Friday night the group of fishermen were found unloading the goods they smuggled into the country.
Among the items smuggled were electric items, clothing, scents and food items such as tinned fish and sweets, the coast guards said. Currently the items are in the possession of the coast guards.
The suspects have been identified as fishermen residing in Beruwala.
The suspects claimed they had sailed from Beruwala fishing harbour to engage in fishing activities last month, and had accidently crossed the sea border and had subsequently been arrested.
They claimed that while they were arrested a person from the Maldivian President’s office helped them and gave them the items.
The suspects have been handed over to the Beruwala Fisheries inspector and are to be handed over to the Police or Customs.