Navy-seized vessel carrying crystal methamphetamine and ketamine in high seas brought to Dikkowita fisheries harbour

Sri Lankan Navy launched a successful naval operation to seize a large consignment of drugs. This special operation was carried out by one of the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels in high seas about 463 nautical miles (835km) away from Sri Lankan shores. The seized haul of drugs along with the suspects and vessel was brought to the Dikkowita fisheries harbour this morning (01^st April 2020).

Sri Lanka Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS ‘Sayura’ intercepted a vessel carrying a large consignment of narcotics in seas about 463 nautical miles (835km) off the southern coast of the island on Saturday, 28^th March 2020 around 9.30 a.m. After having detected a Flag State-less vessel in international waters, it had been intercepted by the Navy and about 605kg crystal methamphetamine (Ice), around 579kg of drugs called ketamine which had not been discovered in Sri Lanka before were found onboard the suspicious vessel. It was also reported that 200 packets of babul drug and another 100g of unidentified drug pills had been found aboard. The consignment of crystal methamphetamine has been valued at about Rs. 6,050 million. Apart from the drugs, 09 Pakistan nationals aboard the vessel in connection to the incident were also taken into naval custody. This remains to be the biggest haul of narcotics seized in an operation at sea till date.

This is the third foreign vessel to be detained while transporting narcotics to Sri Lanka, during the past three (03) months. Prior to this incident, the Navy on 22^nd and 25^th February intercepted 02 foreign vessels carrying narcotics to Sri Lanka and seized a Sri Lankan fishing vessel transferring narcotics from those foreign vessels. As part of that interception, 16 foreigners and 05 locals as well as another 06 locals involved in transfer of narcotics at sea were also held in southern part of the island. Further, the Navy was able to seize 3,653kg of Kerala cannabis, 762kg of heroin, 3kg of crystal methamphetamine in 2019 and 2,339kg of Kerala cannabis, 739kg of crystal methamphetamine, 438kg of heroin and 579kg of ketamine in the past 03 months of year 2020.

Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, senior naval officers and a group of senior officers from the Police Narcotic Bureau were also present on this occasion when the consignment of drugs being brought to the Dikkowita fisheries harbour. Defense Secretary, Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne also arrived at the Dikkowita fisheries harbour to inspect the consignment of drugs. Meanwhile, the Police Narcotic Bureau will be conducting further investigation with regard to the 09 Pakistan nationals, vessels and drugs seized during this operation. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy will continue to conduct regular search operations and crackdowns on vessels carrying narcotics in international waters. In this regard the Navy makes use of satellite technology for surveillance. Further, the Sri Lanka Navy, working in coordination with the Police Narcotics Bureau, has taken necessary steps in pursuit of foreign and local partners in the narcotic supply chain. Addressing on this occasion, Commander of the Navy also emphasized that the fisheries community should continue their living, without falling fall prey to the drug traffickers.