Navy intercepts 02 narcotics-laden trawlers with 11 suspects in southern seas

Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.

Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler (01) suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board. During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.

This morning (25), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour. An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine). The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, and the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, inspected the seized narcotics in Dikovita. The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasuriya, also attended the inspection.