The Sri Lanka Navy has seized about 989kg (wet weight) of dried turmeric off Gurunagar and Mandaitivu in Jaffna.
The turmeric was seized during separate search operations carried out by the Navy yesterday (19).
The search operations also led to the apprehension of 04 suspects in connection to the rackets.
The Navy stated that it conducts routine patrols and search operations in the coastal areas of the island to prevent the influx of contraband.
As an extension of these efforts, the Inshore Patrol Craft deployed by SLNS Kanchadewa in the Northern Naval Command spotted a suspicious dinghy off Mandaitivu Island.
During a search of the dinghy, the Navy managed to find about 496.54kg of dried turmeric in 14 sacks being smuggled and apprehended 02 suspects with the dinghy used for the illegal act.
The naval personnel had also retrieved about 48.30kg of dried turmeric in 01 sack thrown overboard by the suspects.
Meanwhile, the Navy Marines attached to SLNS Welusumana also searched a suspicious dinghy off Gurunagar yesterday.
The search led to the seizure of 12 sacks stuffed with smuggled dried turmeric, weighing about 445.800kg.
The Navy also apprehended 02 suspects involved in the illegal act and the dinghy used for the same purpose.
The suspects apprehended in these search operations were identified as residents of Mannar and they are between the ages of 33 to 51 years.
The accused together with the stock of dried turmeric and 02 dinghies have been handed over to the office of the Jaffna Customs for legal proceedings. (NewsWire)
