(NewsRadio); The Sri Lanka Navy has seized over 165kg of Kerala cannabis, during a special operation mounted in the beach and sea areas of Madagal, Jaffna.
The Navy said SLNS Agbo in the Northern Naval Command seized a consignment of Kerala cannabis, during a foot patrol conducted in the beach area of Madagal.
Accordingly, naval personnel had recovered eight suspicious sacks left behind at the beach and the sacks had been stuffed with 71 packages of Kerala cannabis weighing about 150kg and 390g.
Meanwhile, in another search operation conducted off Madagal by SLNS Agbo led to the apprehension of a suspicious sack adrift in Madagal sea area.
The retrieved sack was full of seven parcels which had been stuffed with about 15kg and 05g of Kerala cannabis.
The Navy said it is suspected that smugglers may have abandoned the consignment of Kerala cannabis without being able to fetch them into the country, due to constant naval operations.
The gross street value of seized Kerala cannabis is believed to be over Rs. 54 million.
The stock of Kerala cannabis has been kept in the naval custody until it is handed over to authorities for onward action.
The Navy noted that the Coastal Observation Points of the Navy maintan a round-the-clock vigil in the coastal areas of the island with a view to prevent nefarious activities taking place via sea routes.
