By Newswire Editorial

The narcotics seized from a multi-day fishing vessel intercepted in Sri Lanka’s southern waters earlier this week have an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 1.5 billion, according to Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara.

Addressing the media today (13), the Deputy Minister said approximately 110 kilograms of suspected heroin and ICE narcotics were discovered aboard the fishing vessel, which had departed from Mirissa.

He said five suspects were arrested along with the vessel during the Navy’s operation.

According to the Deputy Minister, the seized narcotics include between 52 and 60 kilograms of heroin and more than 50 kilograms of ICE narcotics.

The fishing vessel, identified as ‘Yasiru Putha’, was intercepted on November 11 and subsequently brought to the Galle Harbour for further investigations.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Jayasekara revealed that the Navy had seized narcotics worth over Rs. 17 billion during operations conducted over the past one and a half months.

He said these included operations in Thalalla in Matara, Dickowita and Madagal in Jaffna, during which 417 kilograms of heroin and 414 kilograms of ICE were seized.

The Deputy Minister further revealed that since the launch of the government’s drug eradication programme in October last year, the Navy alone had seized narcotics with an estimated street value of Rs. 117 billion.

He added that narcotics worth over Rs. 73 billion had been seized through Navy operations during 2026 alone, excluding the latest seizure. (Newswire)