28 suspects arrested with 400kg of Heroin arrive in Dikkowita

Colombo (News 1st) - The suspects who were seized along with a stock of heroin in the Southern seas by the Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau were brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour. The narcotics are valued at around Rs 6 billion. According to intelligence reports from the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Sri Lanka Navy, it has been confirmed that a drug racket was taking place surrounding the country's coastline. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Navy monitored all vessels crossing the southern waters of the island for 25 days with the use of satellite technology. A suspicious vessel located 600 nautical miles off the southern coast was subjected to a special search. Upon inspection, 400 kilograms of heroin and 100 kilograms of the controlled substance named ICE were recovered from the vessel. Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau DIG Sajeewa Medawatta noted that the 28 arrested suspects would be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on Friday (March 6). During the last 14 months, the Navy has seized 1162 kilograms of heroin, 5000 kilograms of Kerala ganja, and 3 kilograms of ice narcotics with a street value of around Rs 18 billion. Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, Commander of the Navy noted that the operation took 25 days to plan. He added that if the demand for such contraband drops in the country, narcotics would no longer be smuggled into the country. Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today said that he has commenced a campaign to eradicate narcotics from the country, fulfilling the request of the public to ensure national security. The President pointed out that details of the operation that recovered 400kg of heroin were not divulged beforehand as it was of a very complex nature. Former President Maithripala Sirisena too undertook efforts towards eradicating the drug menace, in a similar manner to the current President. While a Presidential Task Force for Drug Prevention had been established, a broad program involving the Police, the Special Task Force, and the tri-forces also took place in the past.