Defence Asia

  The Navy with assistance from the Coast Guard and Police intercepted 219.8 Kg of Heroin being smuggled in from the Polwathumodara coast, in Weligama on Sunday (13 June) morning. Eleven suspects have been held by the Police with PNB conducting further investigations. Pic by SLN By Asiri Fernando The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and law enforcement authorities plan to expand surveillance along the southern coast as 219.8 Kg of Heroin was intercepted off Weligama, in the South of Sri Lanka on Sunday (13 June) morning.   According to Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana, the Police were seeking a seven-day detention order to hold 11 suspects involved in the narcotics trafficking incident under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act. One of the Heroin packets found concealed in a 14.5Kg LPG Cylinder - Pic SLN "There have been several attempts to smuggle narcotics in from the Weligama coast, therefore we believe Weligama to be a key entry and distribution point for narcotics. The Po...

A Sri Lankan fishing vessel suspected of trafficking narcotics being boarded by Indian Coast Guard on 05 March, 2021. Pic - ICG.  By Asiri Fernando The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intercepted three Sri Lankan fishing vessels near Minicoy Islands, off the Lakshadweep coast of India last week (18 March), and found them carrying five AK-47 assault rifles, 1000 rounds of ammunition and 300 Kgs of Heroin. The ICG tweeted about the intercept, stating that "@IndiaCoastGuard· In a swift sea-air coordinated operation, #ICG intercepted 03 suspected boats off #Minicoy Island carrying 05 AK-47 rifles with 1000 live rounds and 300 Kg of Heroin. Boats being escorted to the nearest port for further joint investigation" The three vessels are being towed to the nearest port for investigation. The intercept come days after another three local fishing vessels with 19 fishermen were arrested by Indian authorities earlier this month (05 March) on suspicion of smuggling narcotics. Foreign news report...