Police have arrested the owner of the multi-day fishing vessel seized by the Sri Lanka Navy while transporting over 161 kilograms of heroin in deep waters approximately 400 nautical miles south of the island, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The vessel was brought to Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour along with four suspects. The Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed the heroin — concealed in six sacks — has an estimated street value of around Rs. 4 billion.
Rs. 50 billion seized in 2026
Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekera (Retd) and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda inspected the seized narcotics. Jayasekera revealed that during 2025, the Navy seized drugs valued at over Rs. 75 billion. In the first four months of 2026 alone, nearly Rs. 50 billion worth of narcotics have been intercepted, with 14 local multi-day trawlers and 127 suspects apprehended.
The government stated that a robust mechanism integrating the tri-forces, police, Special Task Force, PNB, and international agencies is being deployed to dismantle drug trafficking networks.
The seizure follows a string of maritime drug interdictions in waters south of the island. The navy has stepped up deep-sea patrols as part of a broader anti-narcotics campaign, with over 520 drug-related arrests made during the Avurudu holiday period alone and 10 trawlers seized in Q1 2026.
