Seventeen arrested for illegal gem mining

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The Police Special Task Force and the Gem and Jewellery Authority in a joint operation arrested 17 persons who engaged in illegal gem mining in Haththota Amuna area Laggala. Seven backhoes were also seized from the possession of the suspects.

The Gem and Jewellery Authority collected a sum of Rs 1.45 million in spot fines on the suspects and on the backhoes.

A spot fine of Rs 150,000 was imposed on each backhoe.

The suspects were from Laggala, Hattota Amuna and Pallegama areas. Officers attached to the Dambulla STF camp and the Eheliyagoda branch of the Gem and Jewellery Authority conducted the raid between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on August 28. Meanwhile, officers attached to the Sooriyawewa STF camp arrested 10 persons in Kalagediara, Sooriyawewa for illegal gem mining in Walawe river on Sunday. They also seized 23 productions from the suspects’ possession.

The suspects were from the Embilipitiya Nawa Nagaraya, Moraketiya, Pallegama, Galwanguwa and Middeniya. The suspects and productions were handed over to the Embilipitiya Police Station for further investigation.