COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard seized 560 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine and heroin during a joint operation off the country’s southern coast on Saturday, the navy said, reported Xinhua.
The operation was conducted at Naotunna Beach in Thalalla, Matara, following information received by the Coast Guard.
Search teams recovered 21 sacks and travel bags containing suspected drugs, along with a dinghy believed to have been used to smuggle the consignment.
Examinations conducted with the assistance of the Police Narcotics Bureau confirmed that the haul comprised more than 240 kg of methamphetamine in 200 packages and over 320 kg of heroin in 275 packages, the navy said.
Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said joint Navy and Coast Guard operations over the past year had seized drugs with an estimated street value of 97 billion Sri Lankan rupees (about US$292 million).
He said coordinated operations involving the armed forces, police, and local and foreign intelligence agencies would continue to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country.
Sri Lanka launched its national anti-narcotics drive, “A Nation United”, on Oct 30 last year.
Official data showed that more than 303,000 suspects had been arrested as of Oct 18.