A stock of 240kg of heroin has been taken into custody along with seven foreign nationals in seas South of Sri Lanka during a joint operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Narcotic Bureau.
The Navy said in a statement that the street value of the heroin seized during the operation is believed to be over Rs.4.8 billion.
Based on information received by the Sri Lanka Navy, the coordinated operation had been carried out by an Offshore Patrol Vessel in international waters.
Accordingly, the suspicious foreign fishing vessel had been taken into custody about 630 nautical miles off the Southern coast.
The Navy added that the narcotic substance was found in 220 packages which were stuffed in eight sacks.
The Navy said, it is suspected that the foreign fishing vessel carrying the narcotics was supposed to be stationed by smugglers in international waters to smuggle narcotics into Sri Lanka, under the guise of a vessel engaging in multi-day fishing activities. The
identity of the apprehended foreign nationals has not yet been confirmed.
In a similar operation conducted by the Navy in coordination with Sri Lanka Coast Guard, State Intelligence Service and Police Narcotics Bureau a local multi-day fishing vessel carrying about 330kg and 532g of smuggled heroin and about 9kg and 818g of Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice) were apprehended in seas off Dodanduwa, Galle on the 12th of April.
Further, 11 suspects with a dingy, a cab and a three-wheeler in connection to the smuggling of narcotics were also taken into custody.
