Sri Lankan Navy and the Coast Guard seized two Indian fibre boats and two Sri Lankan local dinghies on Wednesday (October 21) off the coast of Udappuwa, Puttalam while attempting to smuggle a consignment of beedi leaves.
According to Sri Lankan Navy’s website, a total of 11 suspects, Indian and Sri Lankan nationals were also apprehended.
The interception was made after having spotted two suspicious Indian fibre boats that had entered the Sri Lankan waters, along with two local dinghies. Upon searching the boats, naval and coast guard personnel recovered about 2,400 kg of beedi leaves packed into 60 sacks.
Seven Indian nationals aboard the fibre boats and four Sri Lankan suspects on the dinghies were taken into custody in this operation.
The suspects, seized boats and beedi leaves were handed over to the customs preventive office for further legal proceedings.
Published - October 24, 2026 09:29 pm IST