Drugs worth 620 crores seized from the sea

Security forces have succeeded in arresting six individuals along with approximately 323 kg of heroin, valued at around 6.2 billion rupees, during a special joint operation conducted in the deep sea area located southwest of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Navy, the Department of Coast Guard, and the Police Narcotics Bureau jointly launched this operation, during which the said consignment of drugs was being transported by a multi-day fishing vessel named "Ave Maria" and was subsequently taken into naval custody.

Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda stated that the fishing vessel taken into naval custody was brought to the Dikowita fishing harbor yesterday (01) morning for inspection. During the search conducted there, 298 drug packets meticulously packed in 19 sacks were found, and in addition, a satellite phone operating with satellite technology was also taken into police custody from the vessel. Investigations have revealed that this consignment of drugs was brought by an Iranian vessel and transferred to the local multi-day vessel in the southwestern sea.

Information has now been revealed that behind this massive drug trafficking operation is a drug trafficker named 'Dissanayake' residing in Dubai. According to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya, this raid was carried out based on specific information provided to the Navy by the Police Narcotics Bureau after long-term intelligence surveillance on the individual concerned, and this is the first time such a large consignment of drugs belonging to him has been taken into custody by security forces. Police suspect that the main trafficker in Dubai purchased this vessel from the Wennappuwa area and provided it to the person who orchestrated the operation, and the legal owner of the vessel has already fled the area.

Investigating officers have confirmed that this vessel, which set sail from Wellamankada, Chilaw, with five individuals on February 03, was later boarded by the person suspected of orchestrating this operation from Kalpitiya fishing harbor. The arrested suspects are residents of Negombo, Chilaw, and Kalpitiya areas, and it is noteworthy that the person who acted as the skipper of the vessel was previously arrested on July 06, 2024, on charges of illegally transporting sea snakes in the southern sea off Galle.

This is reported to be the 9th vessel seized by the Navy while transporting drugs since the beginning of this year. Navy Commander Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau Deputy Inspector General Ashoka Dharmasena, and a group of naval and police chiefs were also present to observe this consignment of drugs taken into custody by security forces.