DRUG BUST : 9 drug smugglers arrested with 107.22Kg of heroin in southern seas

Colombo (News 1st):

107.22 kilograms of heroin was discovered

from the Iranian vessel that was seized this morning (March 24) in the southern seas of Sri Lanka. The joint operation carried out by the Police Special Task Force, Police Narcotic Bureau and the Sri Lanka Navy, 10.5 nautical miles off Akurala, Galle. The Navy vessel SLNS Suranimala was used for the operation. Security Forces had seized the vessel and arrested 09 Iranians in possession of 107.22 kilograms of heroin. The suspects and the ship were brought to the Colombo port this evening. Police media spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara noted that 99 parcels of heroin were stashed in 4 fertilizer bags on board the trawler. He went onto note that 9 foreign nationals on board this vessel posed as fishermen and the trawler carrying the heroin was headed towards Sri Lanka. Therefore, he said according to their observations the stock of drugs were bound for Sri Lanka, to be delivered to a drug smuggler in the island. He added that the trawler had set sail about 14 days ago. Media spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Navy Lieutenant Commander Isuru Sooriyabandara noted it was a joint operation and was one of the great victories that they achieved as a country, at a time when they are battling the drug menace as a nation. He noted that they have powers to make this arrest in the framework of international as well as domestic law and that was how they seized the suspicious vessel. [caption id="attachment_332912" align="alignleft" width="550"] Source | Navy.lk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_332913" align="alignright" width="550"] Source | Navy.lk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_332914" align="alignleft" width="550"] Source | Navy.lk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_332915" align="alignright" width="550"] Source | Navy.lk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_332916" align="alignleft" width="550"] Source | Navy.lk[/caption]