Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Navy seizes another vessel smuggling 200 kg of heroin in high seas, arrests 9 foreign nationals – Colombo Page

* Sri Lanka Navy seizes another vessel smuggling 200 kg of heroin in high seas, arrests 9 foreign nationalsThu, Feb 3, 2022, 01:04 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 03, Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy has seized a foreign fishing trawler transporting about 200 kilograms of heroin in the international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka and arrested 9 suspects recently.

In a special operation carried out by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in coordination with Sri Lanka Police and intelligence agencies, a drug-carrying foreign vessel was intercepted in international waters south of Sri Lanka on 26th January 2022.

The special operation was mounted by the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Sayurala, which after about 02-week-long surveillance in international waters, spotted a suspicious foreign vessel remaining on high seas about 1081 nautical miles (about 2002km) off Dondra, south of Sri Lanka.

When a special Navy team was sent to search the suspicious foreign vessel, the individuals of the vessel were spotted jettisoning several sacks, when seen the presence of the Navy.

It was later revealed that the smugglers had thrown overboard about 200kg of heroin in 08 sacks.

Upon reaching the suspicious vessel, a team of naval personnel boarded the vessel and found about 250g of heroin remaining and a satellite phone. As such, the Navy nabbed 09 foreign nationals aboard and seized the foreign vessel and other belongings.

Though the sea area concerned was searched by a team of naval personnel for jettisoned sacks of drugs, no clue was found from the sea area which was rough and has a depth of about 3800m.

The apprehended suspects along with the foreign vessel were brought to the port of Colombo for further investigations today (03rd February).

The coordinated operation paved the way to thwart the influx of another large quantity of illegal drugs to the country, the Navy said.

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Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Navy seizes another vessel smuggling 200 kg of heroin in high seas, arrests 9 foreign nationals - Colombo Page