1 September 2021 08:56 am Views - 502
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
A special operation conducted by the Navy in the high seas yesterday led to the seizure of a multi-day fishing vessel carrying about 290kg stock of heroin, attempted to be smuggled into the island by sea.
The street value of the seized consignment of heroin is believed to be over Rs.2,321 million.
Navy said five suspects have also been arrested in connection with the smuggling.
Based on information received from a coordinated intelligence operation led by the Sri Lanka Navy Intelligence and other Intelligence Services, the Navy detected and searched a suspicious multi-day fishing trawler heading towards the shore, during the special anti-drug operation carried out in the high seas in the afternoon of 30th August.
The interception led to the recovery of about 290.2kg of heroin in 259 packages stuffed in 10 sacks which were concealed in the vessel.
The fishing vessel with heroin and the suspects were brought ashore yesterday morning.
The said multi-day fishing trawler involved in the smuggling of the contraband, had ventured out to sea on 30th July this year and it is suspected that the consignment of narcotics had been fetched to the trawler from foreign smugglers in the international waters.
The suspects aged between 31 and 37 years, held during this operation were identified as residents of Ahungalla, Balapitiya and Habaraduwa.
The Navy and the Police Narcotic Bureau are conducting further investigation into the incident.