Sri Lanka Navy has confirmed that more than 225kg of heroin was found in the multi-day fishing trawler impounded on the high seas off the southern coast of the island.
The estimated value of the heroin haul is said to be Rs. 4.5 billion.
On Monday (Oct. 23), it was reported that naval personnel had intercepted a multi-day fishing trawler carrying a large stock of narcotics.
The interception resulted from a special operation that the navy had mounted on October 19 on the high seas approximately 540km off Dondra in Matara, upon receiving information from the State Information Service (SIS).
Nine sacks containing 200 parcels of heroin were found aboard the fishing vessel and five suspects aged between 30-48 years were taken into custody. These individuals are reportedly residents of Kudawella, Tissamaharama, Kottagoda and Mamadala areas.
The apprehended trawler and the apprehended suspects were brought ashore and were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for onward action.
The latest detection came just a day after the navy had intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler with over 212kg of heroin and ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) valued at over Rs. 4,000 million, in the high seas west of Galle.
After being escorted to the Dondra fisheries harbour, a thorough search had led to the recovery of 160 packages of heroin, weighing about 180kg and 800g as well as 28 parcels of crystal methamphetamine, weighing around 31kg and 550g contained in 12 sacks on Sunday (Oct. 22).
-adaderana
