200kg Heroin Bust: Fishing Vessel Owner Arrested While Fleeing to Maldives

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities apprehended the owner of a fishing vessel that was detained on the high seas for allegedly carrying over 200 kg of nacotics.

The suspect, a 38-year-old businessman residing in the Palagathuraya area of Negombo, was attempting to flee to the Maldives when he was arrested at Katunayake Airport.

At 08:35 last night, as he stood at the final security checkpoint before boarding a plane, police took him into custody.

He has since been transported to the Colombo Police Narcotics Bureau headquarters.

Simultaneously, the multi-day fishing vessel involved in the drug trafficking operation has been brought to Galle port.

The narcotics, along with the six suspects who were detained, will be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau. The Sri Lanka Navy played a crucial role in apprehending the vessel during an operation in the West Sea.