The Navy dismantles a gold smuggling racket.

The Navy dismantles a gold smuggling racket.

The Sri Lanka Navy successfully dismantled a smuggling racket in the wee hours of yesterday (12 July 2023), seizing about 8 kg and 450g of gold during a special operation mounted in the Wannimundalama lagoon area, Kalpitiya. The operation also led to the apprehension of two suspects and the dinghy used for this illegal act.

The Navy carries out regular search operations and patrols in the coastal and sea areas around the island to prevent an assortment of nefarious activities stemming from the sea.

As an extension of these efforts, SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command conducted this special operation in the Wannimundalama lagoon today. Upon detection of a suspicious dinghy speeding off from the lagoon towards the Kalpitiya sea area, the Navy intercepted the dinghy and searched it on suspicion. During the search, about 8 kg and 450g of gold, suspected to be smuggled, were recovered in four packages that were concealed in the dinghy. Also, two suspects in connection with the incident and a dinghy used for the act were held by the Navy.

The suspects held in this operation were residents of Mandalakuda in Kalpitiya, aged 37 and 42. The accused, along with gold and the dinghy, were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office, Katunayake, for onward legal proceedings.