December 25, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have moved swiftly to detain suspects following the interception of a large consignment of narcotics found aboard a multi-day fishing vessel off Sri Lanka’s southern coastline.
The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has secured seven-day detention orders for those initially taken into custody, after they were produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court.
The operation began on December 20 when Sri Lanka Navy personnel, carrying out routine maritime surveillance, boarded a fishing vessel and detected suspicious cargo. The vessel, along with five individuals on board, was escorted to the Dikkowita Harbour on December 24 for further examination.
Detailed searches conducted at the harbour uncovered a substantial haul, including 21 kilogrammes of heroin and 172 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’.
Early investigations suggest the drugs had been transferred at sea from a foreign vessel believed to be of Iranian origin. Expanding the probe, PNB officers arrested a further six suspects at the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour, who are suspected of assisting in transporting the narcotics into the country.
The Sri Lanka Navy, commenting on the wider picture, said maritime drug smuggling remains a major focus of enforcement efforts. According to naval figures, nearly 99 boats and long-range fishing vessels linked to narcotics trafficking have been seized so far this year, along with the arrest of around 360 suspects.
The Navy also reported the confiscation of more than four tonnes of illegal drugs during the year, including over 2,982 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and more than 1,050 kilogrammes of heroin. In addition, significant quantities of other narcotics were intercepted, such as hashish, nearly 1.7 million illicit pills, and approximately 5,900 kilogrammes of both locally grown and imported cannabis.
