The Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard intercepted two Indian fibre boats and two Sri Lankan dinghies on 21 October off Udappuwa, Puttalam, recovering about 2,400 kg of beedi leaves packed in 60 sacks and detaining 11 suspects, the Sri Lankan Navy said on its website. The detained group included seven Indian nationals aboard the fibre boats and four Sri Lankan nationals on the dinghies.
How the interception was carried out
The naval statement said personnel at sea identified two suspicious Indian fibre boats that had entered Sri Lankan waters alongside two local dinghies. After boarding and searching the craft, officers recovered the beedi leaves and took the crew into custody. The seized boats, dinghies and contraband were handed over to the customs preventive unit for further legal proceedings, the Navy added.
- Date of interception: 21 October 2026 (reported 24 October 2026)
- Location: Off Udappuwa, Puttalam (Sri Lankan waters)
- Items seized: ~2,400 kg beedi leaves in 60 sacks; two Indian fibre boats; two Sri Lankan dinghies
- People detained: 11 suspects — seven Indian nationals and four Sri Lankan nationals
Legal and bilateral follow-up
The Sri Lankan Navy said the detained suspects and material were transferred to the customs preventive office for legal action. The naval release did not provide details about the names, ranks or nationalities beyond the count of Indian and Sri Lankan nationals, nor did it state whether India’s diplomatic or maritime law‑enforcement agencies had been notified.
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Beedi leaves | About 2,400 kg (60 sacks) |
| Indian fibre boats | 2 |
| Sri Lankan dinghies | 2 |
| Persons detained | 11 (7 Indian nationals, 4 Sri Lankan nationals) |
Smuggling of bidi tobacco and other contraband across the Palk and Gulf of Mannar waters has been a recurring challenge for law enforcement in the region. The seizure and detention underscore ongoing maritime-security work by Sri Lankan authorities in their territorial waters. The Sri Lankan Navy’s public account is the only official narrative currently available; The Hindu reported the incident on 24 October 2026, citing the naval statement.
There was no immediate statement from Indian maritime agencies, the Indian Coast Guard or the Ministry of External Affairs in the Sri Lankan release. The customs preventive office in Sri Lanka will determine the charges and next steps under Sri Lankan law, the Navy said.
