A stock of 53,000 Pregabalin capsules that were concealed in the shrubs at the Iluppukadawai lagoon in Mannar was discovered during a joint operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday (Feb 28).

The Sri Lanka Navy said that the contraband was discovered during regular operations conducted in the coastal and beach areas to prevent the influx of illegal items into the country.

Accordingly, the operation was carried out yesterday by SLNS Buwaneka in the Northwestern Naval Command with the assistance of Police STF in the Iluppukadawai lagoon.

During this operation, Naval and STF personnel recovered a suspicious box in nearby shrubs and found 53000 Pregabalin capsules, suspected to have been smuggled in.

The recovered stock of prescription drugs has been handed over to the Iluppukadawai Police STF for legal proceedings.