January 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Navy has reported a sweeping series of anti-narcotics operations this year, uncovering illicit drugs and contraband worth more than Rs. 75 billion and detaining hundreds of suspects as part of an expanded national effort to curb organised crime at sea and on shore.
Operating under the government’s “A Nation United” drive to protect younger generations from the dangers of drugs, naval units stepped up patrols and intelligence-led raids across the island and its surrounding waters.
The campaign has relied heavily on cooperation with other law enforcement bodies and maritime partners, both domestic and international, reflecting what officials describe as a more coordinated and aggressive strategy.
Since the beginning of 2025, these operations have resulted in the interception of large consignments of heroin, crystal methamphetamine, hashish, cannabis sourced locally and overseas, as well as prescription medicines, foreign cigarettes and Kendu leaves. In total, 376 Sri Lankan nationals have been taken into custody in connection with these detections.
Among the most significant seizures were more than 1,050 kilogrammes of heroin, valued at over Rs. 25 billion, and close to 3,000 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 47 billion. These discoveries alone led to the arrest of 169 suspects and the seizure of 11 local fishing boats allegedly used for trafficking.
Naval teams also confiscated over 5,700 kilogrammes of foreign cannabis, detaining 73 suspects and impounding 19 vessels, while a separate series of raids resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals found with locally grown cannabis. Smaller but high-impact operations uncovered tens of kilogrammes of hashish and more than 1.6 million prescription tablets believed to have been diverted into illegal markets.
In addition to narcotics, the Navy intercepted large quantities of smuggled goods, including hundreds of thousands of foreign cigarettes and more than 67,000 kilogrammes of Kendu leaves, a commodity often linked to illicit trade networks. Dozens of suspects and vessels were detained in connection with these seizures.
Authorities say all suspects, boats and confiscated items have been handed over to the relevant agencies for further investigation and prosecution. Naval officials insist the intensified operations will continue throughout the year, signalling a sustained push to disrupt drug trafficking routes and weaken the criminal networks behind them.
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