Navy nabbed 370 kilos and 600 grams of dried turmeric and 294 kilos and 100 grams of Kendu leaves in the beach areas of Konthampiddi, Mannar and Arippu in Silawathura, respectively, yesterday.
Two suspects were taken into custody along with 13 dried turmeric filled sacks during the raid at Konthampiddi beach, Navy said.
In a separate operation, the SLN was able to find Kendu leaves in 03 sacks during a patrol conducted in Arippu beach. The persons involved in the racket were identified as residents of Palleimunai in Mannar, aged 33 and 37.
The suspects were handed over to the Mannar Public Health Inspector for quarantine.
Meanwhile, the stock of dried turmeric was handed over to the Jaffna Customs Office for onward legal action and the haul of Kendu leaves was held under naval custody until it is produced for onward legal proceedings.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
Update: Five of the twelve passengers on board the bell 212 aircraft that crashed into the Maduru Oya today, have succumbed to their injuries, the SLAF said.
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