Navy arrests six with cannabis

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Naval troops attached to the North-Western Naval Command arrested six persons involved in smuggling cannabis and flavoured chewing tobacco in Mannar on July 26.

Among the arrested persons two are Indians and the rest Sri Lankan accomplices.

The naval troops took into custody 29.675 kilos cannabis (Kerala Ganja) and 399.160 kilos flavoured chewing tobacco found in their possession.

The items were being smuggled in an Indian fishing vessel (Dhow) from Rameshwaram by the Indians assisted by two Sri Lankans when they were intercepted by the Navy in the seas south of Mannar.

The two Sri Lankans, waiting to pick up the illegal drugs to transfer to Kalpitiya in a car, were also taken into custody,naval sources said.

The arrested persons and items were handed over to Kalpitiya Police for further investigation.