Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

SLN's thinking out - of - the - box in planning operations made netting drug trafficking at seas successful - SLN Chief

April 15, 2020

  • Reveals SLN nabbed smuggled drugs worth of Rs. 3,200 million, last week
  • Says despite coronavirus threat, SLN has not overlooked security threats.
  • Urges fishing community’s cooperation to stop the influx of inbound narcotics
  • Reveals SLN has nabbed drugs over Rs. 21 billion
  • Stresses SLN will continue to support destroying drug trafficking networks

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva attributed the recent successful naval operations to combat organised drug trafficking to use of latest technology, international collaborations and SLN’s out-of the box operational planning including using naval intelligence.

Visiting the SLN’s Dikkowita fisheries harbor, where a haul of smuggled drugs - 281kilos of heroin and 48 kilos of crystal methamphetamine (ice)- valued over Rs. 3,200 million were displayed, Vice Admiral De Silva praised the commitment and the support of the political leadership given to the SLN to fight against smuggling narcotics into the country.

He revealed about the assistance offered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to the SLN in the planning process, in which the SLN was provided access to vital satellite imagery.

“Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne was also instrumental in the providing much needed support in anti-narcotic operations,” the Navy Chief told the media, today(April 15).

 

 

SLN nabbed this haul of drugs based on information given by the drug traffickers, who were taken into custody while transporting a large haul of narcotics on March 28. Based on those information and by analysis of local and international intelligence SLN had found that another vessel loaded with drugs was heading to Sri Lanka.

“SLN arrested the largest haul of narcotics in the high seas and further investigations into the apprehension led to the initial planning preparations of this operation, on March 28,” the SLN Chief said “Later, on March 30, SLN’s Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Samudura’, which was sailed  in the high seas South of Sri Lanka close to the equator on a 14-day operation had made the arrest of this unidentified vessel sailing without a Flag State-less foreign vessel, 548 nautical miles South of Sri Lanka”, the Navy Commander stated.

SLN Commander said his men would continue to conduct regular search operations and crackdowns on vessels carrying narcotics in international waters to destroy the well-organised narcotics smuggling.

“The SLN is using local and foreign intelligence agencies and satellite technology for surveillance. The SLN is coordinating with the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) to put a strong pressure on local and foreign partners in the narcotic supply chain,” Vice Admiral De Silva said urging the local fishing community to engage in their livelihood without getting involved in drug smuggling.

 

 

He also sought the support of the fishing community, as a key stakeholder in eradicating the drug menace in the country.

SLN, which is fully contributing the Government’s efforts to eradicate drug menace in the country under the leadership of President Rajapaksa, has seized 718kg of heroin, 797kg of crystal methamphetamine, 581kg of ketamine and 2,475kg of Kerala cannabis in the first quarter of 2020. The street value of these drug consignments, taken into custody, is estimated to be over Rs. 21 billion.

Further investigations will be conducted by the PNB into the seized drugs, vessel and the seven drug smugglers - four Pakistanis and three Iranians.
Several SLN and PNB senior officials joined the SLN Commander to inspect the haul of drugs and the vessel displayed at the harbor at the press briefing, today.