Naval personnel attached to the North Western Naval Command apprehended a a man attempting to smuggle a 511 kg sandalwood into the country from India via sea yesterday.
The search operation was carried out in the Anawasala area in Kalpitiya and the racketeer was nabbed along with the dinghy used for the transportation the red sandalwood stock, the Navy media unit said.
The suspect and the sandalwood were handed over to the Sri Lanka Customs Sub Preventive Office in Sinnapadu for further action, the Navy said.