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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka /Crime & Justice

Police Seize High-Value Indian Racing Pigeons off Kalpitiya

From Lankadeepa · () Sinhala

Translated from Sinhala and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Police in Kalpitiya arrested four suspects allegedly transporting Indian racing pigeons by sea in violation of quarantine regulations.
  • Officers seized the fishing boat, its engine and a van prepared to move the birds near the coast.
  • Police said the pigeons had spent at least three days at sea and were found weak inside six ventilated plastic crates.

A shipment of valuable Indian racing pigeons was intercepted near Sri Lanka’s Kalpitiya coast after police said the birds were being transported illegally by sea in breach of quarantine regulations.

Four suspects were arrested during the operation, which was carried out by a special raid unit from the Puttalam Senior Superintendent of Police’s office. Officers also seized the fishing boat used to bring the pigeons, its engine and a van that had been left near the coast ready to transport them.

Police launched the operation after Puttalam Senior Superintendent Kapila Premadasa received information about the birds. A team led by Sub-Inspector S.S. Fernando waited in civilian clothing along the Wannimundalama shoreline. After hiding there from about 10 a.m., officers intercepted the relevant fishing vessel at around 5 p.m.

The pigeons had been tightly packed in six perforated plastic crates. Fernando said the birds appeared exhausted and weak after a sea journey lasting three days or longer. Police described them as a highly valuable breed with rings on their legs, used in national and international competitions. Pigeon traders said the commercial value of one bird exceeded 50,000 Sri Lankan rupees.

The birds appeared exhausted and weak after a sea journey lasting three days or longer.

· Sub-Inspector S.S. FernandoHe described the condition of the pigeons when police intercepted the shipment.
About this summary

Originally published by Lankadeepa in Sinhala. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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