July 27, Mannar: Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has arrested six people involved in smuggling illegal substances on board an Indian vessel to the country.

Naval troops attached to the North-western Naval Command intercepted the Indian vessel in the seas south of Mannar and arrested two Indians and four Sri Lankans involved in smuggling cannabis and flavored chewing tobacco on Thursday.

Two Indians and two Sri Lankans on board the Indian fishing vessel from Rameswaram had nearly 30 kilograms of cannabis (Kerala Ganja) and 400 kilograms of flavored chewing tobacco in their possession. The other two Sri Lankans arrested were waiting on land to pick up the illegal drugs for transfer to Kalpitiya in a car.

The arrested persons and items have been handed over to Kalpitiya Police for further investigations. The suspects are to be produced at the magistrate court in Puttalam today.