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Trawler haul of ‘ice’ and heroin, SJB suspect, highlights in recent narco busts
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
More drug detections and conviction of drug traffickers by courts took place as operations to dismantle narcotic networks and organised crime continued.
This week the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court judgement passed on five convicts found guilty of conspiracy, trafficking, and possession of 152.341 kilograms of heroin in 2023.
In the meantime, a massive narcotics haul seized by the Sri Lanka Navy was brought to the Tangalle Fisheries Harbour on November 20.
During the operation, six suspects were arrested along with a local multi-day fishing trawler. The Police Narcotics Bureau at the harbour confirmed 261 kilos and 372 grams of ice, and 115 kg 123g of heroin. A revolver, a pistol, two magazines, and a satellite phone were also recovered.
On 20 November, 30kilos of kush cannabis, estimated to be worth around Rs. 150 million, were discovered at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo. The detection was reportedly made by officers of the Police Central Crime Investigations Bureau.
43 kilos and 968 grams of Ice were found in parcels floating near the Beruwala coast
Police Media Spokesman ASP Wootler, revealed that several significant arrests connected to narcotics and violent crimes took place during the week.
Two coastal narcotics seizures were reported on November 18.
The Colombo North Crime Division had received information regarding suspicious parcels floating near the Beruwala coast. Sri Lanka Coast Guard retrieved the parcels, which were then checked by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). They found 43 kilograms and 968 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ice).
On the same day, Bentota Police had received a message about a suspicious parcel offshore. The PNB found 19 kilograms and 850 grams of heroin. On Wednesday, the PNB seized a stock of ‘kush’ cannabis worth Rs. 40 million at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake.
Three Sri Lankan youths, aged 34, 26, and 26 years, were arrested after arriving on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-315 from Kuala Lumpur. Four parcels containing 4kg and 22g of ‘kush’ cannabis had been hidden in their luggage. They were to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.
In a separate incident, a police constable of the Panadura Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau was arrested last week for alleged involvement in drug trafficking. This followed the arrest of two suspects in Thebuwana on November 2, whose phone records subsequently linked the constable to a drug network operating in Kalutara. The constable is undergoing training at a police unit in Mirihana.
Following the southern coastal naval operation, a former member of the Pannala Pradeshiya Sabha from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was also arrested.
Since the launch of the government’s “A Nation United” anti drug campaign on October 30, authorities have as of November 21, seized over 1,400 kg of narcotics, arrested 23,550 suspects, and carried out more than 23,891 raids.
Sri Lankans have been told to call Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for Western Province, Sajeewa Medawatta, at 071-8592621 with information. The drug information hotline 1818 is available specifically for the fishing community and residents of coastal areas.
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