Police said a seven-day detention order has been obtained to further question the owner of the multi-day fishing trawler who was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
The Sri Lanka Navy seized the vessel during a special operation conducted yesterday (1) in the deep sea, west of the island, along with a large stock of narcotics.
Following further investigations, the owner of the vessel was arrested yesterday evening in Galle by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).
The vessel was brought to the Dikovita fisheries harbour this morning (2), where authorities discovered about 16 sacks containing roughly 350 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice) and heroin, valued at around Rs. 5 billion.
Meanwhile, the six suspects found aboard the vessel at the time of the Navy’s interception have also been handed over to the PNB for further investigations and legal proceedings.
