Colombo: Answering the call of the national mission ‘A Nation United,’ the Navy has tightened its grip on the island’s maritime boundaries. Striking deep in the southern waters, a successful naval mission resulted in the seizure of a local fishing trawler and six suspects, foiling a major drug smuggling attempt.
According to News.LK, the intercepted trawler, carrying two suspicious sacks, and the suspects were escorted to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour. A specialised inspection conducted by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) confirmed that the sacks contained more than 102kg of heroin and over 900g of cocaine. The detection was inspected on-site by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), alongside the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda.
Speaking on this occasion, the Deputy Minister emphasized that under the guidance of the President and the supervision of the Ministry of Defence, the Tri-Forces, Police, and intelligence agencies have intensified the ‘A Nation United’ national mission. He noted that during 2025, the tri-forces and police, in coordination with domestic and international agencies, conducted numerous successful operations. Notably, the Navy seized over 75 billion rupees worth of narcotics. Despite national disasters and escalating global conflicts, the Sri Lanka Navy remains vigilant, fulfilling its critical mission in alignment with international maritime conventions.
The Deputy Minister commended the Navy’s role in ensuring public safety and protecting youth from drugs. He declared drug trafficking as a major menace, urging all of society to help eradicate it. He urged traffickers to quit the trade and addicts to abandon their habits, highlighting the financial burden of rehabilitation.
The Deputy Minister further stated that the seized drugs will remain in highly secure custody until legal proceedings conclude, with arrangements made to destroy drugs and exhibits once legal processes are completed. He emphasized that law enforcement agencies have the opportunity to operate independently and urged the public to report drug trafficking via hotline numbers 1818 and 1997. Journalists were also acknowledged for raising public awareness about the drug menace.
The multi-day fishing trawler, along with the narcotics and suspects, was handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for further investigation and legal proceedings.