Navy rounds up sea cucumber smugglers

Street value of Rs 200,000:

The Sri Lanka Naval Ship “Ranawickrema” on a surveillance patrol rounded up a Fibre Glass Dinghy (FGD) attempting to smuggle in sea cucumbers in the seas south of Mannar on March 8, 2011.

The detection was made close to the Indo-Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and two persons with two sealed gunny bags filled with sea cucumbers concealed inside the dinghy were taken into Naval custody while attempting to speed into Sri Lankan waters.

The suspects and the apprehended items were handed over to the Mannar Assistant Fisheries Director for legal action.

On detection, the suspects had attempted to evade Naval arrest showing false documentation.

However, alert Naval personnel, through careful scrutiny, uncovered the racket in which the smugglers were attempting to sneak in a haul of sea cucumbers (Beach-de-mer made ready for sale) which weighed approximately 45 kilograms with a street value of Rs 200,000.

The Sri Lanka Navy maintains a well-fortified surveillance presence in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait to prevent poaching, smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal maritime activities.

Routine patrol carried out by SLN in the Sri Lankan waters thwarts the trespassing of the IMBL and strict vigilance maintained by SLN personnel act as a deterrent to racketeers attempting to penetrate the Indo-Lanka IMBL for illegal underhand dealings.

This has paved way for ease of fishing in the area and with the lifting of fishing restrictions, local fishermen engage in their livelihoods with a greater freedom and a high sense of security.