Police Special Task Force (STF) officers conducted a raid in the Periyapillumale area in front of the Karadiyanaru Police Division yesterday (28).
Officials say that precious pearls have been found during the raid.
It is reported that two persons who were transporting the pearls were also arrested.
The raid was carried out by a team of officers from the Vavunathivu camp following a tip off received by Navy intelligence.
The suspects were aged between 29 and 52 and residents of Mahaoya, Samagipura.
An interrogation of the suspects revealed that the elephants in the Gajamuthu reserve had been killed and taken away.
The suspects have been handed over to the Batticaloa Wildlife Conservation Department for further investigations.
PEARL SMUGGLING BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
