The Sri Lanka Navy has apprehended 36 individuals along with a haul of 1,750 sea cucumbers during a search operation conducted in the sea of Illuppukadawai, Mannar, on Monday (30).
According to the Navy, the search operation also led to the seizure of six (06) dinghies and diving gear used for this illegal act.
The operation was carried out by SLNS Buwaneka, of the North Central Naval Command.
During the search operation, naval personnel intercepted the 06 suspicious dinghies and discovered that the crew members were engaging in illegal night‑time diving to harvest sea cucumbers.
The suspects, aged between 22 and 59, were identified as residents of Illuppukadawai and Nachchikuda.
The suspects, along with the sea cucumbers, diving gear and the dinghies, have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Punakari for legal action.
The Sri Lanka Navy has released the haul of sea cucumbers back into the ocean near the Nachchikuda jetty, with the intervention of the Kilinochchi Fisheries Inspector. (Newswire)