July 21, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted more than one tonne of heroin and several other large consignments of illicit drugs during a series of maritime security operations carried out between January and July 2026, marking a significant success in the country’s ongoing campaign against organised drug trafficking.
According to the Navy, the operations formed part of its broader mission to safeguard Sri Lanka’s territorial waters while supporting the Government’s nationwide anti-narcotics drive, A Nation United. Continuous surveillance, intelligence-led patrols and coordinated maritime operations have been intensified across the country’s coastal waters to disrupt drug smuggling routes.
Officials said several locally operated multi-day fishing trawlers allegedly used by organised criminal networks to transport narcotics into Sri Lanka were intercepted during the seven-month period. The seized drugs, valued at millions of rupees on the illicit market, have been handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies for further investigations and legal proceedings.
The Navy noted that these operations were carried out in close coordination with the Tri-Forces, Sri Lanka Police, the Police Special Task Force, the Police Narcotics Bureau and foreign intelligence partners, under the direction of the Ministry of Defence. Authorities believe the coordinated effort has dealt a major setback to transnational drug trafficking syndicates while preventing large quantities of narcotics from reaching local communities.
During the operations, naval personnel confiscated 1,080.894 kilogrammes of heroin, 590.806 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’, 667.695 kilogrammes of Kerala cannabis, 256.200 kilogrammes of cocaine and 56.091 kilogrammes of hashish.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nation’s maritime borders, the Navy said it would continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement operations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks and supporting efforts to create a safer and drug-free Sri Lanka.
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