Navy Seizes Millions Worth of Contraband in Coastal Operations

The Sri Lanka Navy, in conjunction with police forces, has conducted a series of successful anti-smuggling operations along the island's coastlines. Raids in areas including Kalpitiya, Thalaimannar, and Hulftsdorp have resulted in the seizure of contraband valued at hundreds of lakhs of rupees. Recovered items include large quantities of medicines (over 200,000 tablets combined), foreign cigarettes, cosmetics, pesticides, dried turmeric, bidy leaves, shampoo, and spices like dried ginger and cardamom. These goods were found concealed in sacks on beaches, hidden in vegetation, or stored in houses. While suspects have evaded capture in some instances, one individual was arrested in Kalpitiya during a raid on a property suspected of housing illicit goods.