285 suspects nabbed with narcotics in joint raids by tri-forces and police

A total of 285 suspects have been arrested during a seven-hour joint operation carried out by the Police Special Task Force (STF), Police, Army, and the Air Force in the Western and Southern provinces.

A cache of narcotics has also been seized, including 01 kilogram of heroin and 01 kilogram of cannabis during the operation carried out at several locations  in the two provinces.

Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the operation was launched according to a strategy planned a few weeks ago, and that the Air Force, the Police STF and the Sri Lanka Army were also involved.

It is reported that there are several identified drug traffickers among the arrested suspects.

Simultaneously, a special operation had been launched in the Southern Province and several suspects have also been arrested.