Navy seizes 275kg of Kerala Cannabis worth Rs. 82 million

The Sri Lanka Navy states that it seized about 275 kilograms of Kerala cannabis worth an estimated Rs 82 million and arrested two suspects during an operation in the seas off Madagal, Jaffna yesterday. 

The SLNS Ranadheera attached to the Northern Naval Command had spotted a suspicious dinghy in seas off Madagal last morning. As the dinghy was about to be searched by the Navy it attempted to escape from the scene, where the Inshore Patrol Craft P 055 attached to the Northern Naval Command intercepted the dinghy along with the two suspects. 

During a further search of the sea area, the Navy managed to recover seven sacks which contained 110 packages of Kerala cannabis, adrift in the seas that the suspects are believed to have thrown overboard. 

The suspects have been identified as resident of Madagal, aged 25 and 37. The suspects together with the stock of Kerala cannabis and the dinghy were handed over to the Ilavalai Police for onward legal action, the Navy added. 

By Romesh Madushanka