Counternarcotic operations top priority: Navy Commander

Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva and SDIG Sujeewa Madawatta of the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) inspect a haul of drugs of an estimated value of Rs 6 billion, seized in joint operations recently. The PNB is conducting further investigations with 21 suspects and 3 vessels also seized during this operation. 400 kg of heroin and 100 kg of the methamphetamine known as ‘ice’ was taken into custody in the record bust, which saw two Navy Patrol Vessels sail 1100 km south of the island on a month-long mission.  

• Counternarcotic operations discussed weekly at NSC 
• Navy intercepts 1130kg heroin, 5 cannabis tonnes in 14 months  
• Warns fishing community to not get involved in drug smuggling
• Expresses confidence PNB will carry on further investigations, arrest kingpins

Counternarcotic operations are a top priority for the National Security Council, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva said yesterday.

The Navy Commander made the comments at the press conference held at Dikowita Fisheries Harbour, where the Navy and the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) brought ashore an estimated Rs. 6 billion worth of drugs seized in a joint operation in the high seas last weekend. The Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted over 1130 kg of heroin and 5 tons of cannabis over the last 14 months. 

“Drug abuse has infiltrated the Sri Lankan school system, university education, and construction sector, and countering it is a top national security priority for the Government,” he said, adding that counternarcotic operations were discussed and coordinated weekly at the National Security Council meetings. 

The operation saw two Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels, the SLN Samudura and SLN Sayurala, embark on a month-long patrol with teams of PNB detectives on board, to intercept a possible ‘mother ship’ which was smuggling narcotics. A chain of events led the Navy to intercept two unregistered vessels (with no flag) in the high seas - 600 nautical miles (1111km) away from the southern Sri Lankan shores. 

“The Sri Lanka Navy and the PNB concluded a successful operation which lasted more than 25 days, resulting in us taking in to custody 100 kg of the substance ‘ice’ and 400 kg of heroin on the high seas,” De Silva said. He thanked stakeholders including PNB, local and foreign intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Defence, and the sailors who took part in the operation, for their commitment to countering drug trafficking. 

He warned members of the fishing community not to be lured in to drug smuggling due to the promise of wealth, pointing out that the Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies and armed forces were closely sharing intelligence with their foreign counterparts and using satellite surveillance technology to monitor vessel activity in the seas around the island. “We work together, share intelligence, get assistance from multiple local and foreign counterparts, especially in using new technology to detect, analyse and counter drug trafficking,” he said.

Twenty-one individuals, including five Sri Lankans, 12 suspected Iranians and four Pakistanis have been taken in to custody. Two flagless vessels and a multi-day trawler registered in Sri Lanka have also been taken in to custody. “We need to stand against this surge as a country, 400 kg of heroin multiplies into two to three tons of heroin when it reaches the streets,” warned PNB head SDIG Sajeewa Medawatte. Medawatte said that the PNB aims to conclude investigations and present a strong case in court to bring all those involved in the drug ring to book.