Sri Lanka naval fleet units on patrol in the Northern waters apprehended 13.5 kg of drugs suspected to be heroin along with 6 Indian nationals and an Indian fishing boat yesterday morning (2). The value of the seized drug was estimated to be approximately 162 million.

SLNS Ranawickrama (Fast Gun Boat) on patrol attached to the Northern Naval Command detected a suspicious movement crossing IMBL from Indian waters to Sri Lankan territorial waters in the wee hours. The suspected boat movement was continuously monitored by the patrolling ship. The apprehension was made on suspicious and unusual presence of the alleged fishermen on the small fishing dhow. The apprehended drug parcels, boat and alleged Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurei harbour and will be handed over to the Kankesanthurei Police for further investigations.

Sri Lanka Navy has been continuously apprehending drug traffickers approaching to the Northern waters as alleged fishermen.

During the period 2016 up to date, 19 Indian nationals have been taken into Sri Lankan custody on the charge of smuggling drugs into the country and approximately 2140 kilograms of Kerala Cannabis and approximately 130 kilograms of drugs classified to be Cocaine and Heroin have been seized during raids carried out by Sri Lanka Navy.