Over 219kg of heroin found in impounded fishing trawler - navy confirms

Sri Lanka Navy has confirmed that more than 219kg of heroin was found in the multi-day fishing trawler impounded on the high seas off the southern coast of the island.

The estimated value of the heroin haul is over Rs. 4.5 billion.

On Monday (Oct. 23), it was reported that naval personnel had intercepted a multi-day fishing trawler carrying a large stock of narcotics.

The interception resulted from a special operation that the navy had mounted on October 19 on the high seas nearly 292 nautical miles (approximately 540km) off Dondra in Matara, after receiving information from the State Information Service (SIS).

Nine sacks containing 200 parcels carrying a total of 219kg and 634g of heroin were found aboard the fishing vessel and five suspects aged between 30-48 years were taken into custody. These individuals are reportedly residents of Kudawella, Tissamaharama, Kottagoda and Mamadala areas.

The apprehended trawler and the apprehended suspects were brought ashore and were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for onward action.

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayake, and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, arrived at the Colombo Port this morning (Oct. 24) to inspect the seized consignment of narcotics.

The latest detection came just a day after the navy had intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler with over 212kg of heroin and ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) valued at over Rs. 4,000 million, in the high seas west of Galle.

After being escorted to the Dondra fisheries harbour, a thorough search had led to the recovery of 160 packages of heroin, weighing about 180kg and 800g as well as 28 parcels of crystal methamphetamine, weighing around 31kg and 550g contained in 12 sacks on Sunday (Oct. 22).

Thus far in 2023, Sri Lanka Navy has seized multiple consignments of narcotics including heroin, ‘Ice’, Hashish, Kerala cannabis and local cannabis, worth more than Rs. 21 billion.