Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy said it apprehended a suspect with 1,947 kg smuggled kendu leaves on the western coast of the South Asian country on Sunday morning.

Staff of the navy vessel SLNS Vijaya made this arrest during a special operation conducted in the Karative beach area in Puttalam, the navy said in a press release.

The 50-year-old suspect who smuggled the kendu leaves in 65 packages has been handed over to police, said the press release.

Kendu leaves are used in Sri Lanka to manufacture a product called beedi, which is a cigarette without a filter, and can only be imported after obtaining a license.

(With UNI Inputs)