The Sri Lanka Navy seized 10 multi-day fishing trawlers involved in drug trafficking during the first three months of 2026, recovering over 1,800 kilograms of illicit drugs with an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 44 billion.
Navy Media Spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath disclosed the Q1 figures on Thursday while addressing media following the arrival of a narcotics-laden trawler at Dikowita Fisheries Harbour — the latest in the series of seizures.
The confiscated drugs include crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”), heroin, hashish, and cocaine, recovered from vessels intercepted in waters around Sri Lanka, Commander Sampath said.
The Q1 crackdown reflects a stepped-up naval interdiction campaign targeting drug smuggling networks that use multi-day fishing trawlers to transfer narcotics from foreign vessels offshore. The most recent seizure involved a vessel intercepted south of the island carrying a substantial heroin consignment.
The Navy’s operations complement broader law enforcement efforts. Police conducted an island-wide anti-drug sweep during Avurudu, arresting over 520 suspects across multiple districts.
The scale of the Q1 haul — averaging more than three trawler seizures per month — underscores the persistent use of Sri Lankan waters as a drug transit route connecting South Asian and Southeast Asian trafficking networks.
