Navy seizes over four tons of dried turmeric, 16 suspects arrested

Sixteen suspects have been arrested with 4,150 kg of smuggled dried turmeric during special operations conducted in Puttalam, the Navy said.  

Northwestern and North Central Naval Commands conducted the operations on October 30 and 31.  
After noticing suspicious behaviour of a group of persons and interrogating them, the Northwestern Naval Command were able to seize a stock of smuggled dried turmeric, during a patrol carried out on the beach of Erambugodella in Ettalai, Puttalam.   Accordingly, 2,042 kg of dried turmeric in 65 sacks, a lorry, a motorbike and five suspects were taken into the custody.  

During another operation in the Periyapadu Beach area, the Navy recovered another stock of smuggled dried turmeric brought to the shore by two dinghies while it was loaded to a lorry.  

Further investigation into the incident led to the recovery of three more dried turmeric sacks hidden by racketeers in a house nearby.  

Accordingly, the operation paved the way to seize 1,600 kg of dried turmeric stuffed in 45 sacks, two dinghies, a cab and apprehension of eight suspects, the Navy said.  

Meanwhile, the North Central Naval Command after having spotted a suspicious dinghy off Vankalai beach in Mannar recovered 508 kg of turmeric in eight sacks. The Navy also held three suspects and the dingy during this operation.