Largest ever cocaine haul in South Asia detected

The Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) yesterday detected the largest ever haul of cocaine discovered in the South Asian region aboard an India-bound ship docked at the island’s main Colombo Port.

The PNB, acting on a tipoff, seized over 800 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a container loaded with teak logs. The street value of the cocaine haul is estimated to be Rs. 12 billion.

According to the police media unit, the vessel was on a voyage from Ecuador to Munrah Harbour in India via Colombo.

 The ship had left Ecuador on 2 October and had reached Belgium on 20 October and was on its way to India through a circuitous sea route.

Today’s seizure was reportedly the largest quantity of cocaine detected so far in Sri Lanka and South Asia.

The raid was carried out by 30 PNB personnel led by PNB Director SSP Kamal Silva under the directions of IGP Pujith Jayasundera and DIG Nandana Munasinghe.

Further investigations are being carried out with the help of intelligence units in Ecuador Belgium, Saudi Arabia and India. (Colombopage)