The operation additionally resulted within the seizure of one other native one-day fishing trawler with 4 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 seizure on April 12.
The haul of narcotics included about 179kg and 906g of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and about 83kg and 582g of heroin (with their packages).
Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera arrived on the Galle Harbour on April 13 to examine the consignment of narcotics held on this operation.
The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard frequently patrol and conduct search operations alongside the island’s coast to forestall unlawful actions, corresponding to drug trafficking, stemming through sea routes.
Throughout this devoted operation based mostly 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 trawler was discovered to have a haul of crystal methamphetamine and heroin in 17 sacks, it was held on April 12, with six suspects aboard.
Moreover, SLCG Samudraraksha inspected one other native one-day fishing trawler, which was plying suspiciously within the sea space. Throughout the inspection, 4 suspects had been apprehended, together with the trawler, on suspicion of trying to alternate narcotics with the multi-day trawler beforehand seized.
Following a radical search of the suspicious multi-day fishing trawler on the Galle Harbour on April 13, authorities recovered 17 sacks containing crystal methamphetamine and heroin. The haul of crystal methamphetamine, weighing about 179kg and 906g (together with packages), had been in 129 packages, stuffed in 13 sacks and the stash of heroin, weighing about 83kg and 582g (together with packages), had been in 76 packages, contained in 4 sacks.
The consignment of narcotics, together with the six suspects and the multi-day fishing trawler was handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) for onward authorized motion.
Furthermore, the 4 people, together with the one-day fishing trawler, which had been seized on suspicion of being concerned in a drug alternate at sea, had 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, of ages starting from 23 to 54.
In the meantime, the gross avenue worth of the consignment of medication seized throughout this operation is believed to be greater than Rs. 3,798 million.
Together with the current confiscation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized medicine with a gross avenue worth of over Rs. 9,300 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 legislation enforcement authorities, to hold out anti-drug operations of this nature to be able to foil drug smuggling makes an attempt being made within the guise of fishing.
