The Navy seized about 330kg and 532g of heroin in 300 packages worth over Rs. 6,708 million and 09kg and 818g of crystal methamphetamine (ICE) in 10 packages worth over Rs.98 million.
The consignment was seized in a special operation conducted by the Navy in coordination with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, State Intelligence Service (SIS) and Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) in seas off Dodanduwa, Galle on April 12 after the interception of a local multi-day fishing vessel which was carrying the narcotics.
Eleven suspects along with a dinghy, a cab and a three-wheeler in connection to the incident were also seized.
“Based on information received from SIS, the Navy and Coast Guard engaged in a two-weeklong operation covering the island and international waters,” the Navy Media Unit said.
Accordingly, SLN units detected and searched a suspicious local multi-day fishing trawler in seas off Dodanduwa on April 12.
The drug-carrying multi-day fishing trawler seized by the Navy, ventured out to sea from Beruwala fishery harbor on March 26 in the guise of multi-day fishing. It is suspected that the consignment of narcotics was loaded into the trawler from foreign smugglers in international waters. The suspects held during this operation were identified as residents of Hikkaduwa, Boossa, Kalawana, Berillawatta and Moragoda aged between 23 and to 36 years. The Navy and Police Narcotic Bureau are conducting further investigations into the incident.
Monday, April 18, 2022 – 01:00