No room for drug smuggling ring at any cost - Defence Secretary

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) affirmed that tri forces and law enforcement agencies are continuously engaging in similar operations to eradicate the drug menace.

The Defence Ministry asserted that all avenues of illegal drug inflow into the country are further restricted along with the coordinated efforts of all intelligence agencies.

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in coordination with the Sri Lanka Police and Intelligence Services recently seized a foreign fishing vessel carrying over 170 kilos of heroin worth of Rs. 1,575 million and arrested nine suspects in international waters, south of Sri Lanka.

The vessel and the suspects were escorted to the Colombo Harbour on 18th September 2021.

The narcotic-loaded vessel was seized while it had been stationed at the international waters about 850 nautical miles (approx. 1574 km) away from the southern tip of Sri Lanka, under the guise of a fishing vessel.

Further investigations into the incident are being conducted.

SLN has been carrying out similar operations in order to create a drug-free society in Sri Lanka.