Police have revealed further details of a dramatic vehicle interception in Pannala that led to the arrest of a man and two women and the recovery of heroin, large sums of cash suspected to be drug proceeds and drug-packaging materials.

According to the Police Media Division, officers attached to the Giriulla Police Station launched the operation on September 22 after receiving information that narcotics were being transported in a motor car.

A team of officers subsequently followed the vehicle from Giriulla town and attempted to stop and search it in Pannala. However, the occupants allegedly ignored police orders and attempted to flee, endangering the officers in the process.

Police said that during the attempt to evade arrest, officers were compelled to open fire at the rear wheel of the vehicle. As the occupants allegedly refused to unlock the doors for inspection, police broke the glass of the front left-side door before removing the occupants from the vehicle and conducting a search.

The search of the car resulted in the discovery of 15.260 grams of heroin and Rs. 924,770 suspected to be proceeds from drug trafficking. A 36-year-old male suspect and two female suspects aged 39 and 16 were arrested along with the vehicle.

The suspects are temporary residents of the Nelumdeniya area, police said.

Investigators later carried out a search at the house where the suspects had been residing based on information obtained during questioning.

During that search, police recovered a further 62 grams of heroin, Rs. 1.68 million suspected to be proceeds from narcotics trafficking, 500 bottle caps allegedly used for drug packaging, a roll of transparent tubing and 2,235 plastic tubes believed to have been intended for the distribution of narcotics.

The suspects, the seized narcotics, cash and other items have been taken into custody as investigations continue.

Giriulla Police are conducting further investigations into the incident and the suspected drug trafficking operation. (Newswire)

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A 29‑year‑old resident of Thannekumbura, Kandy has been arrested after attempting to offer a bribe of Rs. 500,000 to Police officers at the Teldeniya Police Station to secure the illegal release of a drug trafficking suspect.

Police said the incident followed the arrest of a suspect with 2.385 grams of ICE narcotics on July 31, for which a detention order was obtained from the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court. 

Based on information provided by the suspect, another individual was later arrested in Thannekumbura with 10.795 grams of ICE.

Officials revealed that during efforts to prevent the second suspect from being produced in court, a man attempted to hand over 100 notes of Rs. 5,000 each to the Officer‑in‑Charge of Teldeniya Police. 

Acting swiftly with a team of officers, the OIC arrested the individual at the police station while the bribe was being offered.

The seized cash has been taken into police custody. Investigations are being conducted under the Bribery Act, and the matter has been referred to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption for further legal action. (Newswire)

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The Police have seized properties worth over Rs. 57 million believed to have been purchased with money earned through drug trafficking, following a court order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The Police Illegal Assets Investigation Division revealed that a woman from Pubudugama, Uswetakeiyawa had constructed a two‑storey house valued at Rs. 50 million on a 20‑perch plot, and another house with a shop worth Rs. 7 million on a 9.5‑perch plot in Kunjawatta, Nugape, Wattala. 

Investigators say both properties were funded by proceeds from narcotics trafficking.

The Welisara Magistrate’s Court issued an order yesterday (08) to seize the properties for seven days, preventing their sale or transfer.

The Police said the suspect has fled the area, and further investigations are underway to apprehend her. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Public Security says 788 persons were apprehended over drug-related offences during a special islandwide raid conducted yesterday (30).According to the ministry, 32 suspects linked to various crimes and 356 persons against whom arrest warrants were issued were also arrested. 

The suspects were arrested following the inspection of 24,705 persons, 10,510 vehicles, and 7,238 motorcycles. 

The Ministry of Public Security further said that a total of 122,913 persons have been arrested from 01 January to 29 July 2025, over drug-related offences.

The Police have seized 928.787kg of heroin, 1396. 709 kilos of ICE, 11,192.823 kilos of cannabis, 27.836 kilos of cocaine, and 381.428 kilos of Hashish, during this period. 

The arrests and drug seizures come as the Sri Lankan Police have intensified operations to dismantle organized drug syndicates. (Newswire)  

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With today’s major drug bust, Sri Lankan authorities have seized more than 1,761kg of narcotics so far in 2025 alone — including over 544kg of heroin and 1,217kg of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) — through coordinated operations led by the Navy and law enforcement agencies.

The latest seizure took place during a high-seas operation off the southern coast, where the Sri Lanka Navy, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted two local multi-day fishing trawlers carrying a massive narcotics shipment.

Eleven suspects have been arrested in the operation, which was carried out in collaboration with the State Intelligence Service, Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB), and Regional Coordination Operation Centres.

The trawlers were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour this morning (28), where authorities confirmed the seizure of approximately 275.6kg of heroin and 503.6kg of Ice. The suspects and the vessels have been handed over to the PNB for further legal action.

Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), who was present during the inspection along with the Navy Commander and Acting IGP, stressed the government’s commitment to eradicating drug trafficking. He assured that stringent legal action would be taken against those involved, as part of ongoing efforts to build a drug-free society. (Newswire)

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A 42-year-old suspect has been arrested with 33 kilograms and 106 grams of heroin in Urugamuwa, Dikwella, following a raid by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).

According to Police, the suspect, a resident of Galhengoda, Urugamuwa, was in possession of narcotics allegedly belonging to a friend, who is a drug peddler and is currently overseas.

PNB is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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