A foreign vessel carrying a large consignment of narcotics including 500 Kg of drugs alleged to be Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE) together with about 500 Kg of cocaine was apprehended by Sri Lanka Navy in seas around 465 nautical miles off Southern coast of the island.
Sri Lanka Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS ‘Sayura’ had detected the Flag State less vessel on Saturday, around 9.30 a.m. in international waters.
The Navy also announced that 200 packets of babul and another 100g of unidentified pills had been found on aboard the ship. The street value of the haul of drugs has not yet been estimated. However, it is believed that the total consignment of drugs will be valued at more than Rs. 12,500 million.
Further investigations will be conducted following the illegal foreign vessel’s arrival on tow to the Dickowita harbour on April 1.
Sri Lanka Navy had detained two more foreign vessels while transporting narcotics on two separate missions earlier during the last two months. Following that operation the Sri Lanka Navy arrested 16 foreigners and five Sri Lankans engaged in the narcotics trade.
Regular search operations and arrests of vessels engaged in drug trafficking will be carried out with the use of satellite technology for surveillance. The Police Narcotics Bureau coordinates with Sri Lanka Navy in these operations.
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