SRI LANKA COAST GUARD SEIZES LARGE DRUG HAUL FROM FISHING TRAWLER AT DEWUNDARA FISHERY HARBOUR ON 22 OCTOBER 2023

In a highly coordinated operation based on information provided by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Narcotic Bureau, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure team achieved a major breakthrough. The team successfully apprehended a staggering 179.140 kilograms of heroin and 31.296 kilograms of hashish from a local multiday fishing trawler at Dewundara Fisheries Harbour.

The operation was executed flawlessly following instructions from the Commander of the Southern Naval Area, which led to the deployment of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship Samudraraksha on the evening of 20^th October 2023. The interception took place approximately 91 nautical miles away from Galle, bearing 270. The trawler “JAYA SAHAN”was escorted and subsequently handed over to the Coast Guard IPC CG 207 on the evening of 21^st October 2023. It was then brought to the Dondra fishery harbor for further inspection. A comprehensive search conducted by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard's advanced search team revealed a hidden stash of narcotics concealed among frozen fish in the trawler's compartments. The confiscated drugs consisted of 160 packages of heroin, weighing a total of 179.140 kilograms, and 28 packages of hashish, with a combined weight of 31.296 kilograms. The Sri Lanka Coast Guard handed over the seized narcotics, along with proper documentation, the fish stock, the trawler, and three suspects to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further legal proceedings.

This successful operation underscores the pivotal role played by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, the nation's premier maritime law enforcement agency. Under the visionary leadership of Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana, Director General of the SLCG, and in close collaboration with the Sri Lanka Navy and other maritime stakeholders, the agency is dedicated to combating the menace of drug trafficking through the adoption of supply reduction strategies.

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard's policy directives are aligned with national interests and reflect the strong commitment of the nation's leadership, including President Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe and Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retired), to eradicate the invasion of narcotic and psychotropic substances in Sri Lanka. This successful operation is a testament to the nation's resolve to combat drug-related issues, ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.