A special operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard intercepted an Indian dhow in northwestern waters on 13 September 2022.[1] Ten people were arrested: five Indian nationals on the dhow and five Sri Lankan fishermen on a local fishing trawler.[2] The Coast Guard said its ship Suraksha stopped the dhow 37 nautical miles off Kudiramalei Point as it tried to transfer nine bags of Kerala cannabis to the trawler.[2] News First reported the inspection took place in Sri Lankan waters west of Kudiramalai Point, Puttalam.[1]

The Coast Guard put the consignment at 434.8 kg of Kerala cannabis.[2] News First reported about 434 kg (wet weight) in nine sacks.[1] News First said the street value was believed to be over 130 million Sri Lankan rupees.[1] The Hindu put the haul at ₹13 crore.[3]

The Hindu named the five Indians as T. Rikshan and J. Christy Raj of Soosayapparpattinam, S. Anthony Adimai of Victoria Nagar in Thangachimadam, S. Imran Khan of Keezhakkarai and Udhayakumar of Tiruppullani, all in Ramanathapuram district.[3] They had set out from Keezhavaipparu in Thoothukudi district in the unnumbered country boat Paraloha Matha, the paper reported.[3]

The dhow, the cannabis and the ten suspects were brought ashore and were to be handed to Kalpitiya Police for legal proceedings after preliminary investigation, News First reported.[1] The Coast Guard said the seized consignment went to the navy ship SLNS Vijaya for onward legal procedures.[2]