Joint STF, Air Force mission foil illegal sand mining operation in Mutur

 


Police STF and Air Force RSF personnel prepare to rappelling down from a MI-17 helicopter to intercept illegal sand miners. (Pics via SLAF) 



By Asiri Fernando


An intelligence-led operation by the Police Special Task Force (STF) and Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on Tuesday (18 May) resulted in the arrest of 56 suspects following a land-air interception of several illegal sand mining sites near Sittar Bridge in Mutur. 

The heliborne interception also netted many vehicles, boats and equipment used for illegal sand mining in the Mutur. According to the SLAF, a force of STF Commandos and members of the Air Force Regiment Special Force (RSF) raided the locations, arriving by Mi-17 helicopters, which had taken the illegal sand miners by surprise and cut off their escape routes. 



The joint operation was launched based on information obtained by intelligence operatives and following the sites being surveilled by Beach King B-200 aircraft from the SLAF's No 03 Maritime Squadron. The Air Force Commander, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana had last year indicated that the SLAF will use both manned and unmanned aircraft for crime interdiction and prevention operations in support of law enforcement agencies.  

According to the SLAF, eight trucks, thirteen tractors, thirty-four boats, thirty-seven motorcycles which were used by the suspects carrying out sand mining has been taken into custody during the operation. The suspects and equipment taken into custody by the STF have been handed over to the Police for further investigations. Illegal sand mining, gem mining and logging are some of the major environmental crimes that Sri Lanka needs to address quickly. 

A new unit a Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) has been formed to enable quick response in support of law enforcement agencies, with personnel from the Air Force and STF making up its ranks. "the unit will be kept on 24-hour standby readiness in order to rapidly respond to incidents and operations related to environmental destruction, drug smuggling and other illegal operations" the SLAF said. 







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