The operation additionally resulted within the seizure of one other native one-day fishing trawler (01) with 04 suspects, believed to have been there to fetch the consignment of narcotics mid-sea.
The operation was mounted by deploying Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship (SLCG) Samudraraksha which made the apprehension on twelfth April 2024. The haul of narcotics included about 179kg and 906g of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and about 83kg and 582g of heroin (with their packages).
The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera arrived on the Galle Harbour on thirteenth April to examine the consignment of narcotics held on this operation.
The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard recurrently patrol and conduct search operations alongside the island’s coast to stop unlawful actions, corresponding to drug trafficking, stemming by way of sea routes.
Throughout this devoted operation primarily based on naval intelligence, a suspicious multi-day fishing trawler, which was about 133 nautical miles (246 km) off the south coast of the island, was intercepted and searched by SLCG Samudraraksha.
Because the fishing trawler was suspected of smuggling a haul of crystal methamphetamine and heroin in 17 sacks, in the course of the search, the narcotic-carrying trawler was held on twelfth April, with 06 suspects aboard.
Moreover, SLCG Samudraraksha inspected one other native one-day fishing trawler, which was plying suspiciously within the sea space. In the course of the inspection, 04 suspects have been apprehended, together with the trawler, on suspicion of making an attempt to alternate narcotics with the multi-day trawler beforehand seized.
Following an intensive search of the suspicious multi-day fishing trawler on the Galle Harbour on thirteenth April, authorities recovered 17 sacks containing crystal methamphetamine and heroin.
The haul of crystal methamphetamine, weighing about 179kg and 906g (together with packages), have been in 129 packages, stuffed in 13 sacks and the stash of heroin, weighing about 83kg and 582g (together with packages), have been in 76 packages, contained in 04 sacks.
The consignment of narcotics, together with the 06 suspects and the multi-day fishing trawler was handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) for onward authorized motion.
Furthermore, the 04 people, together with the one-day fishing trawler, which have been seized on suspicion of being concerned in a drug alternate at sea, have been additionally handed over to PNB for additional authorized motion.
The people held within the operation are recognized to reside within the Weligama, Imaduwa, and Galle areas, ranging in age from 23 to 54 years outdated. In the meantime, the gross avenue worth of the consignment of medication seized throughout this operation is believed to be greater than Rs. 3798 million.
Together with the latest confiscation, the Sri Lanka Navy has held medication with a gross avenue worth of over Rs. 9300 million throughout operations mounted thus far in 2024. The Sri Lanka Navy – the nation’s first line of defence is dedicated to coordinating with different regulation enforcement authorities, to hold out anti-drug operations of this nature in an effort to foil drug smuggling makes an attempt being made within the guise of fishing.
