Over 2,300 kg of beedi leaves seized by Navy this month

A total of over 2,300 kg of beedi leaves which were attempted to be smuggled into the country, have been seized during separated raids conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy this month.

Navy said several suspects were also arrested along with the stock of beedi leaves during those raids.

In the two latest raids conducted by the navy on Saturday, 194.8 kg of beedi leaves were recovered during a patrol carried out around Paleithivu and Delft Islands.

They said a naval team attached to the Northern Naval Command, on patrol, recovered 87.9 kg of beedi leaves which had washed ashore to Kuvinthavadi beach in Delft Island.

Further, naval personnel attached to the Paleithivu Naval detachment in NNC recovered 70.9 kg of beedi leaves which had washed ashore during a patrol conducted along the Paleithivu beach.

Another 36 kg of beedi leaves which also had washed ashore to the beach were recovered by Naval personnel attached to NNC during a search carried out in Pulianthivu island. The recovered hauls of beedi leaves were handed over to Customs office-jaffna and Kayts Police for onward action.

Navy said several suspects were also arrested along with the stock of beedi leaves during those raids