The Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted a multi-day local fishing vessel carrying a large consignment of suspected narcotics during a special operation in deep-sea waters south of the island.
According to the Navy, a long-range patrol craft conducted the operation and took four suspects into custody along with the vessel. Sacks suspected to contain narcotics were recovered from on board.
The vessel, the consignment and the detained suspects are being escorted ashore for further investigation and legal proceedings. The Navy did not immediately disclose the quantity or street value of the seized cargo or the identities of those arrested.
The interception is the latest in a series of offshore drug seizures carried out by the Navy’s long-range patrol craft this year. Sri Lanka’s southern deep-sea routes have repeatedly been used by trafficking networks moving narcotics between international waters and local handlers, with multi-day fishing vessels a recurring cover.
Under Sri Lankan law, the suspects, consignment and vessel will be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for onward prosecution under the country’s drug control legislation.
