Over 200kg of suspected heroin seized at sea off Galle

Navy personnel have seized a multi-day fishing trawler believed to have been carrying over 224kg haul of heroin, in southern seas of Sri Lanka.

The navy during a special operation in the seas off Galle last evening had spotted a suspicious multi-day fishing trawler and searched the vessel. 

Accordingly, the navy managed to find this haul of drugs in the vessel. Five Sri Lankan nationals onboard were also held by the Navy, during this operation. 

Meanwhile, two persons who are believed to be suspects involved in the racket had arrived at the location by a dinghy to collect drugs and were also nabbed. 

Accordingly, 07 suspects in total have been apprehended during this naval operation.

It is believed that the suspects have attempted to smuggle the drugs haul to the island via sea route. The seized drugs and vessel along with the suspects will be handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) for onward investigation, the navy said. 

This year alone, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized about 739kg of heroin during its operations.

Apart from that, the Navy, being an active member of the National Programme for Drug Prevention, has also seized 3 tons (3,263kg) of Kerala cannabis, 08kg of local cannabis, 42 tons (42,851kg) of beedi leaves and a large consignment of drugs attempted to be smuggled or peddled in the country, during 2019.