Nine foreign nationals held for smuggling 200 kg heroin

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Nine foreign nationals aboard a multiday fishing  trawler were taken into custody by the Sri Lanka Navy in  international waters south of Sri Lanka while they were dumping around  200 kg of heroin into the sea.   
The drug-carrying foreign vessel was intercepted during a  special operation carried out by Sri Lanka Navy in collaboration with  Sri Lanka Police and intelligence agencies.   

The Navy said the trawler, remaining in high sea, attempting  to transfer the consignment of the contraband to a local fishing  vessel. The crew then had lowered the cargo of heroin into the sea when it  was approached by the Navy.   

During a further search of the vessel, the Navy managed to  recover about 250g of heroin and a satellite phone and took nine  suspects into custody. 

The apprehended suspects along with the foreign vessel were  brought to the port of Colombo for further investigations yesterday.   

The Navy said though they searched for jettisoned sacks of drugs, there were no clues due to turbulent weather conditions. 

• The apprehended suspects along with the foreign vessel were  brought to the port of Colombo for further investigations yesterday