Navy seizes large haul of drugs in international waters
May 09, 2022A large haul of 240 kilos of narcotics substances believed to be heroin was seized by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) after a three week long surveillance in international waters off the southern coast recently.
According to SLN media, the operation conducted in coordination with the Police Narcotics Bureau by Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Sayurala had detected a suspicious stateless foreign fishing vessel about 630 nautical miles (1166km) off the southern coast.
Navy said the sailors boarded the vessel had seized about 240 kilos of narcotics substances along with seven foreign nationals. The narcotic substance was found in 220 packages stuffed in eight sacks, it says.
The SLN suspects that the foreign fishing vessel with the narcotics was supposed to be stationed by smugglers in international waters to transfer the narcotics into the island.
The street value of the seized drugs is believed to be over Rs.4800 million, it further says.
The identities of the suspects were not confirmed since onward investigations and legal proceedings into the incident are being carried out by the Navy and Police Narcotic Bureau, it adds.
