The Sri Lanka Navy, with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, has seized approximately 125kg of smuggled Kendu leaves during a joint search operation in the Periyapadu coastal area of Puttalam.
According to the Navy, the operation was conducted on Friday morning (16) by personnel attached to SLNS Thambapanni of the Northwestern Naval Command, together with Coast Guard personnel.
During the search, naval personnel inspected three suspicious sacks found along the coast and discovered the stock of Kendu leaves.
The Navy suspects that smugglers may have abandoned the consignment due to increased naval surveillance in the area.
The seized Kendu leaves were handed over to the Puttalam office of the Department of Excise for further legal proceedings. (Newswire)
