SRI LANKA COAST GUARD SEIZED A LARGE DRUG CONSIGNMENT AT SEA

Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) Ship Samudraraksha apprehended a large drug consignment approx. 133 nautical miles off Dondra, South of Sri Lanka on 12^th April by conducting a coordinated operation based on information provided by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). The operation was executed flawlessly following instructions given by the Commander of the Navy, the Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard and the Commander Southern Naval Area.

A comprehensive search conducted by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard's advanced search team revealed that narcotics were concealed inside a separate compartment under the fishing nets. The confiscated drugs consisted of 76 sacks of Heroin, weighing 83.582 kilograms and 129 sacks of Crystal Methamphetamine (Ice) weighing 179.906 kilograms. Finally, the Sri Lanka Coast Guard handed over the seized narcotics along with ten suspects to the Police Narcotics Bureau for legal proceedings. It is important to note that this is the third time that SLCGS Samudraraksha has intercepted sizable drug consignment in recent past.

This successful operation underscores the crucial role played by the SLCG, the nation's premier maritime law enforcement agency. The SLCG is committed to combating the drugs trafficking threat collaborating with SLN and other maritime stakeholders under the visionary leadership of Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana, Director General of SLCG.