One arrested in Puttalam with turmeric worth Rs 5 million

A stock of turmeric valued at about Rs 5 million that had been smuggled in from India has been taken into custody by the Narcotic Unit of the Puttalam Crime Investigation Bureau. One suspect was also arrested by police. 

At the time it was seized, some of the turmeric had been ground down and readied for sale. Both turmeric powder and dried pieces of turmeric were recovered in the search. 

The raid was conducted following a tip-off that a stock of turmeric had been hidden inside a salt factory located at the 2nd mile post along the Puttalam-Mannar Road. 

The seized stock consisted of 11 sacks containing 265 kilograms of dried turmeric and 42 sacks of turmeric powder amounting to 747 kilograms. 

The suspect who was arrested with the turmeric is the manager of the salt factory. Police are investigating whether the latest consignment is connected to another turmeric consignment seized in Anamaduwa yesterday. 

The seized turmeric and the suspect have been handed over to Puttalam Police for further investigations. 

Text and Pix by Jayaratne Wickramaarachchi