Joint operation nets trawler carrying over 300kgs of heroin
A special operation conducted by the Navy in coordination with the Police Special Task Force and Police Narcotics Bureau in the seas off Hambantota, led to the interception of a local fishing trawler carrying over 300 kilogrammes of heroin, worth over Rs. Six billion.
The Navy also apprehended six suspects during the operation last Saturday. The drug-carrying trawler and the suspects were brought to the Galle Harbour yesterday morning (November 7).
Meanwhile, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne also arrived at the Galle Harbour to inspect the consignment.
The special operation was carried out by the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Wickrama II, based on a coordinated intelligence operation of the Police Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau and Navy Intelligence. Accordingly, the Navy’s Sea Unit deployed for this special mission intercepted a suspicious local fishing trawler in the southern waters about 10 Nautical Miles (about 18km) off the Little Basses Reef Lighthouse.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of 300 packages of the drug concealed in 12 sacks which had been hidden in the trawler.
Thus, the Navy arrested six Sri Lankans who were in the trawler.The Navy, Police Narcotic Bureau and Police STF also seized a dinghy boat, which is suspected to have been made ready to fetch the stock of narcotics from mid-sea,and arrested three males and a female in an operation the Nillwella beach area on November 6. Meanwhile, the Police Narcotic Bureau is conducting further operations to apprehend more suspects in connection to this illegal act.
The suspects held in this operation were identified as residents of Hambantota, Kottegoda, Dikwella and Mahamadala, who are in the 31 to 62 year age group.
The haul of narcotics, multi day fishing trawler, dinghy and 10 suspects will be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further legal action. The Navy has detected drugs with a gross street value of over Rs. 22.5 billion, including the latest seizure during operations in 2022.