Drug bust at sea exposes heroin route to Sri Lanka
April 2, 2016 11:19 am
Drug dealers from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been engaging in large scale drug trafficking activities in collaboration with the drug dealers in Sri Lanka while fishing trawlers are being used to transport massive consignments of narcotics into the island, Sri Lanka Navy said.
During a joint mission carried out by the Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau, a haul of 101 kg of narcotics was apprehended whilst transferring through the Southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka.
The consignment which was apprehended on 30th March 2016, is said to be the largest ever stock of narcotics apprehended at sea in the recent history.
Although the mission of arresting the illegal drug smugglers were accomplished two days ago, the investigations are still underway to arrest the rest of the suspects in connection to this drug smuggling racket, SLN media unit said.
“The drug dealers of Pakistan and Afghanistan have been engaging in this large scale drug trafficking activities in collaboration with the drug dealers in Sri Lanka. Further it was revealed that the consignment of drugs is transferred by foreign vessels to the sea areas of Sri Lanka and, brought ashore by Multi-day fishing trawlers in the guise of engaging in fishing.”
“Subsequently the stock is transferring to Colombo via the Southern Expressway. This drug racket has been recognized to be a well-organized business running without detection to the radar of the authorities,” the statement said.
On receiving of credible intelligence by the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau along with the Sri Lanka Navy executed this raid on 30th March 2016 in the Southern coastal belt. SLNS Nandimithra and SLNS Mihikatha along with few other Fast Attack Craft were deployed for the mission.
During the raid Navy along with the Police personnel were able to apprehend 10 Iranians and 01 Pakistani with the craft used for the smuggling of drugs. Apart from the 100 kg of heroin recovered, the Naval and Police personnel were able to discover another 1kg of heroin concealed in the vessel along with another 1kg of unidentified narcotic drug.
The suspects are already in police custody and investigations are in progress to nab the rest of the dealers connected to this network, according to the navy media unit.
