According to reports, the vessel was caught in strong winds and heavy waves and was found drifting in the sea. Naval officers attached to the Alankuda Naval Detachment recovered the boat and handed it over to the Vijay Naval Base in Kalpitiya.
The boat’s engine was also taken into custody. Authorities stated that the suspects who were transporting the goods had fled the scene before the vessel was recovered.
Among the items seized were approximately 354,000 narcotic pills with an estimated street value of Rs. 177 million, 177 kilograms of beedi leaves packed in five sacks, and a quantity of pharmaceutical products whose value has not yet been assessed. These included tablets, ointments, 118 injectable medicine vials, and 1,412 injection tubes.
The seized goods are scheduled to be handed over to the Kalpitiya Police for further investigations and legal proceedings.
Police and naval authorities have launched an operation to identify and apprehend the suspects involved in the smuggling attempt.
