The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a consignment of Kendu leaves weighing 535kg (wet weight) in seas off Poruthota, Negombo yesterday.
The consignment was adrift at sea when spotted by the Navy.
SLNS Kelani of the Western Naval Command spotted 18 suspicious packages adrift in Poruthota and retrieved the packages and found that the packages were stuffed with Kendu leaves weighing about 535kg (wet weight).
It is believed that the smugglers abandoned the stock of Kendu leaves due to Navy operations.
Meanwhile, the stock of contraband was handed over to the Customs Preventive Office in Katunayake for legal proceedings.
