The Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted a fishing trawler carrying over 179 kilos of heroin with a street value of over Rs. 3593 million.

The Navy stated that in a coordinated operation conducted with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, based on information from the State Intelligence Service, the local multi-day fishing trawler was intercepted about 132 nautical miles off the Little Basses in Hambantota on Saturday (15).

The operation, carried out by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship ‘Samudraraksha’, also resulted in the apprehension of six (06) suspects.

The consignment of narcotic drugs and the suspects were brought to the Galle harbour today where Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera was present to inspect them.Based on information received from a combined intelligence operation led by the Naval Intelligence, the State Intelligence Service, and the Police Narcotic Bureau, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship ‘Samudraraksha’ was deployed for this special operation off the coast of the Little Basses in the south of Sri Lanka.

In this operation, the local multi-day fishing trawler was searched on suspicion and a consignment of heroin was recovered from the trawler. Accordingly, about 179kg and 654g (including packages) of heroin were found in 160 packs which were in 08 sacks. Thus, the consignment of drugs, the fishing trawler and 06 suspects who were onboard were taken into custody.The Navy stated that the suspects held in the operation have been identified as residents of Nakulugamuwa, Kudawella, Netolpitiya, and Trincomalee, who are from 25 to 32 years of age. They will be handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for onward legal action.

Including the latest seizure, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized drugs with a gross street value of over Rs. 4908 million during operations conducted so far in 2023.