Rs. 23 Billion Worth of Heroin and Ice Smuggled into Sri Lanka This Year via Sea Route

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan authorities say that narcotics with an estimated street value of approximately Rs. 23 billion have been smuggled into the country so far this year via illegal maritime routes.

According to the Police, the narcotics—mainly heroin and crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”)—were primarily transported using fishing vessels.

The drugs were seized in four major raids carried out this year, leading to the arrest of 25 suspects.

The Police revealed that the operations resulted in the seizure of 542 kilograms of heroin and 1,216 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.

Authorities say investigations are continuing to uncover the broader network behind these smuggling operations.