Navy foils another drug smuggling attempt in international waters

A foreign multiday fishing trawler, remaining on high seas with a view to transfer the consignment to a local fishing vessel, had jettisoned about 200kg of heroin into sea, when it was approached by the Navy yesterday.

During further search of the vessel, the Navy managed to recover about 250g of heroin and a satellite phone. Accordingly, the Navy nabbed nine foreign suspects aboard in connection to this racket. The apprehended suspects along with the foreign vessel were brought to the port of Colombo for further investigations yesterday. The coordinated operation paved the way to thwart the influx of another large quantity of illegal drugs to the country.

Accordingly, the SLN ship, after about 02-week-long surveillance in international waters, spotted a suspicious foreign vessel remaining on high seas about 1081 nautical miles (about 2002km) off Dondra, south of Sri Lanka.

When a special Navy team was sent to search the suspicious foreign vessel, the individuals of the vessel were spotted jettisoning several sacks, when seen the presence of the Navy.

It was later revealed that the racketeers had thrown overboard about 200kg of heroin in eight sacks. Upon reaching the suspicious vessel, a team of naval personnel boarded the vessel and found about 250g of heroin remaining and a satellite phone. As such, the Navy nabbed nine foreign nationals aboard and seized the foreign vessel and other belongings.