The Navy, over the weekend, took into custody four persons, along with a stock of contraband Kendu leaves, weighing about 551kg (wet weight) off the Mattathivu island, Kalpitiya lagoon. the Navy also seized two dinghies used to smuggle the contraband.
A senior Navy headquarters official said that the dinghies had been loaded with 21 sacks,stuffed with approximately 551kg (wet weight) of Kendu leaves.
The suspects were identified as residents of Kalpitiya. They were aged between 17 to 27. The suspects along with the stock of Kendu leaves and the two dinghies were handed over to the Customs Preventive Office at Katunayake.