Navy intercepts trawler smuggling about 101kg of heroin and ice in southern waters

The Sri Lanka Navy intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler on the high seas south of Sri Lanka that was smuggling approximately 101kg and 870g of methamphetamine (ice) and heroin, taking five suspects into naval custody.

The trawler, which was carrying six sacks of narcotics and the suspects, was brought to Galle harbour on the morning of 13 November 2026 for further legal and investigative proceedings.

A further examination conducted with the expert assistance of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) confirmed the consignment contained approximately 58kg and 736g of heroin packed in 52 parcels and about 43kg and 134g of ice packed in 50 parcels. The gross street value of the consignment is believed to exceed Rs. 1.5 billion.

The suspects, narcotics and the multi-day fishing trawler were handed over to the PNB for further legal proceedings.

The inspection of the consignment was conducted in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd); the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando; the Commander Southern Naval Area, Rear Admiral HNS Perera; the Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Chaminda Karunasena; and several senior naval officers, together with senior officials of the PNB.

Speaking at the inspection, Jayasekara said that, alongside safeguarding national security, the Sri Lanka Navy continuously conducts intensified operations in the surrounding waters to disrupt the supply of narcotics under the 'A Nation United' national mission. He said a dedicated Navy surveillance operation on the high seas had succeeded in intercepting this consignment of narcotics.

He stressed that the drug menace has severely harmed the national economy, social development, youth and school children. Under the 'A Nation United' national mission, he said, the Navy, alongside the Coast Guard, armed forces, Police, PNB and Special Task Force, has intensified land and sea anti-narcotic operations through intelligence-sharing with local and foreign agencies, sealing off all routes for narcotics to enter the country.

Jayasekara said the Ministries of Defence and Public Security, working together, have strengthened the Navy's surveillance capabilities through technical equipment and devices and that new legislation has been introduced targeting drug supply and demand. With this Government support for law enforcement, he asserted that no route, by sea, air, or port, remains open for narcotics to enter the country and urged traffickers and their facilitators to desist from the drug trade.

He affirmed the Navy's unwavering commitment to rescuing fishermen in distress at sea and its special vigilance in protecting those engaged in legitimate fishing. He also stressed that anyone using fishing as a cover for illegal activities will find no escape from the law.

On behalf of the Hon. President and the entire public, he expressed gratitude to the Sri Lanka Navy and all other parties who contributed to the successful conduct of this operation, carried out with great dedication through days of deep-sea surveillance based on intelligence shared with the State Intelligence Service and other intelligence agencies.

He urged the public to provide information to law enforcement agencies via the emergency hotlines 1818 or 1997 to ensure the success of anti-narcotic operations, and appreciated the role played by the media in raising public awareness about the drug menace.

With this operation included, joint operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Coast Guard during the one-year period since the launch of the 'A Nation United' national mission in October 2025 have succeeded in seizing narcotics with an estimated gross street value exceeding Rs. 115 billion. Operations conducted so far in 2026 alone have succeeded in seizing narcotics with an estimated gross street value exceeding Rs. 74 billion.