Large stock of foreign cigarettes seized off Delft island

The seized items of foreign cigarettes and cosmetic items that were smuggled via Northern waters. 

Navy recovered a substantial haul of foreign cigarettes and other cosmetic and wearable items during a search operation conducted in seas south of Delft, Jaffna, on Wednesday. 

 

The operation was carried out by Northern Naval Command, which detected nine (09) suspicious sacks adrift in the area. Upon inspection, the sacks were found to contain approximately 1,600,000foreign cigarettes, 150 packs of cosmetic products, and 10 wrist watches, believed to have been attempted to be smuggled into the island, according to the Navy. 

 

It is believed that the consignment may have been abandoned at sea due to the Navy’s intensified surveillance efforts targeting illegal maritime activities in the region, Navy said. The seized items were subsequently handed over to the Delft Police for onward legal action.