News
Mega hauls of smuggled Indian contraband netted in Kalpitiya
View(s):By Padma Kumari Kankanamge
The Kalpitiya peninsula, located some 50 km off Rameswaram and just about 25 kilometres from the Indian maritime boundary, is a landing point for smugglers, including maritime crime networks moving narcotics.
Indian beedi leaves, sea leeches, oysters, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, pesticides, agrochemicals, medicines, fertilisers, shoes, slippers, perfumes, electrical appliances and other goods reach Kalpitiya through these connections. Kerala ganja, heroin, ice, and narcotics also enter Sri Lanka by sea.
During the past month, many smuggled items have been recovered in the Kalpitiya area
During the past month, many smuggled items have been recovered in the Kalpitiya area.
Since May 25, several suspects have been arrested by the Kalpitiya Police.
Chief Inspector Lakshman Ranwala Arachchi, who took over as the new OIC of Kalpitiya Police Station on May 25, began his raids by seizing a 12-bore shotgun and live ammunition from a forest area on Uchchimune Island on May 28.
Chief Inspector Lakshman Ranwala Arachchi
A stock of Indian contraband worth millions was seized by the Kalpitiya Police while being loaded onto a lorry from the Kalpitiya Kudawa beach.
Among the seized items were 1,040 kilos of cardamom worth Rs 1 million, 100 kg of turmeric powder and raw turmeric worth Rs 500,000, 25,800 foreign cigarettes worth Rs 2.5 million and three electrical appliances worth Rs 100,000.
Later, a vessel carrying 19 bags of dried ginger was seized from the Erambugodella coast in Kalpitiya Police Station on June 18. The bags contained 570 kg of ginger and had a market value of Rs 3 million.
Nearly 40 bags of beedi leaves that were being loaded onto a lorry from the Kalpitiya Kanda Kuliya coast were seized on June 20. The lorry was loaded with beedi leaves, and the load was hidden with a stock of fish.
There were 110 kg of high-quality beedi leaves, cut and prepared. Their market value is Rs 1.1 million.
Six packs containing 180 kg of beedi leaves were found hidden in a rented forest area in Kalpitiya Kanda on June 21. The market value of these is Rs 1.8 million.
Twenty packs of Indian beedi leaves hidden in a house in the Pulachchena area were seized on June 24. One suspect was held. The 600 kg stock has a gross value of Rs 6 million.
On the same day, 433 kg of beedi leaves in 14 packs were found hidden in a forest along the coast in the Athatha area.
Also, 317,000 drug capsules in 40 packs were seized by the Kalpitiya Police at around 11 pm on the 26th while being unloaded on the Kalpitiya Mohaththuwaram Island beach.
The Kalpitiya Police said that the drug capsule stock is worth about Rs 55 million. The capsules had been packed in cardboard boxes and wrapped in polythene.
All these raids took place in less than a month. The seized drugs have been valued at Rs 112.5 million.
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