Sri Lanka’s Navy has seized more than 133 kilograms of heroin during a high-seas operation south of the island, officials said on Monday.
The Navy intercepted a local multi-day fishing trawler and arrested five suspects suspected of smuggling the narcotics, as part of a maritime operation conducted in coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
A special inspection conducted at the Dickowita fisheries harbour today confirmed the presence of over 133 kilograms of heroin, the Police Narcotic Bureau said.
Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, accompanied by Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, visited Dickowita to inspect the seized narcotics.
Addressing the media, Jayasekara said the operation demonstrates the government’s efforts to combat criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling and human trafficking.
He said the tri-forces, along with the Coast Guard, Police and other law enforcement agencies, are working together under the national security initiative “A Nation United” to counter such activities.
Jayasekara added that successful operations like this are the result of careful planning, intelligence analysis, surveillance and coordination among agencies.
He said narcotics valued at more than Rs. 75 billion were seized through naval operations in 2025, while seizures so far in 2026 have exceeded Rs. 20 billion.
The Deputy Minister also warned that traffickers are increasingly using fishing vessels to transport drugs and urged the public to assist authorities by reporting information related to narcotics trafficking.
The trawler, suspects, communication equipment and seized drugs were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for further investigations and legal action. (Newswire)