[Sri Lanka] - Navy catches 10 suspects with 2 fishing trawlers thought to have smuggled narcotics

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sri Lanka Navy has actually captured 10 suspects in addition to 02 regional fishing trawlers who were suspected to have smuggled narcotics
into the island
The suspects and the fishing trawlers have actually been escorted to the Colombo Port today (Jan
16), the Navy said.The apprehension has actually been made based on details revealed by the suspects of a local fishing trawler which was
held during a special operation performed by the Navy, in waters west of Beruwala on January 05
The very same operation, which was performed by SLNS Wickrama II had actually also led to the seizure of 22 packages of heroin weighing 23kg
and 235g, which were smuggled by those suspects
The Navy has held 05 suspects and the drug-carrying trawler throughout the apprehension.During the interrogation, the suspects aboard those
trawlers have actually admitted that they had tossed the stocks of narcotics overboard in the presence of the Navy
The interrogation has also revealed that drug traffickers have developed a brand-new technique in which they remove inside elements of the
multi-day fishing trawlers Radar Domes and hide drugs within, according to the Navy.In order to curb illegal activities, consisting of the
smuggling of drugs through sea routes, Sri Lanka Navy carries out routine patrols and operations in the seaside and beach locations of the
island
According to a coordinated operation performed by the Navy together with other intelligence services, it has actually been exposed that a
number of regional multi-day fishing trawlers are involved in the smuggling of drugs into Sri Lanka
Meanwhile, the 02 fishing trawlers brought ashore are presently being checked, and the 10 suspects together with the fishing trawlers will
be handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for onward legal proceedings.