Operation ‘Yukthiya’: 1,184 more suspects arrested with drugs

Sri Lanka Police, together with the Special Task Force (STF), the Army and the Navy, have arrested 1,184 more suspects within the 24-hour window ending at 12:30 a.m. today (Jan.05).

It is reported that 49 of the arrestees were sent to rehabilitation centres. The police have secured detention orders on 59 suspects for further interrogations.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, 337g of heroin, 242g of methamphetamine (‘Ice’), 1,221 intoxicating pills, 1.2kg of ‘Kush’, 6.62kg of cannabis and 7,772 cannabis plants were seized in the latest raids carried out under the special anti-drug operation ‘Yukthiya’.

Meanwhile, 93 individuals who were on the list of Island Re-convicted Criminals are also among the recent arrestees.

Sri Lanka Police has set up a hotline (0718598800) for the public to provide information concerning the ongoing anti-drug operation. The hotline was introduced under the directive of the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.

The island-wide operation was launched in late December 2023, on the instructions of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, in a bid to eradicate drug trafficking, organized crime and other related offences in the country.