Navy seizes boat smuggling beedi

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

A boat carrying a large consignment of beedi (cigarettes) manufactured in India has been seized by naval patrols on the seas off Bathalangunduwe along with four Indians. The suspects had trespassed into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, Police Media Spokesman, SP Prishantha Jayakody told the Sunday Observer.

The boat carrying three thousand sticks of beedi in 25 parcels was seized by the Navy.

The Naval patrols intercepted the boat while the beedi was being smuggled in to Sri Lanka.

The four suspects along with the consignment of beedi have been handed over to the Kalpitiya police for further investigations.

The consignment of beedi has been manufactured at a company named Soisandu at Sindupundurai, Thiruneliveli in South India according to the labels on the packs.

The four suspects from Tamil Nadu in their mid-twenties, will be produced before the Puttalam Magistrate following the investigation, police said.