Five Fishers Arrested Over Floating Sacks of Drugs

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Police have arrested five fishermen suspected of involvement in a large-scale drug smuggling ring after parcels of heroin and crystal meth (Ice) were discovered floating in the seas off Bentota and Beruwala.

The raid was carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau following a tip-off.

Authorities revealed that the suspects had reportedly set out from Dikwella Fisheries Harbour on November 11 for deep-sea fishing and were returning to shore when the narcotics were transferred onto two small boats.

Both vessels are now missing, police said.

During the operation, officers recovered:

43 kg of crystal meth concealed inside 41 frozen fish found drifting in deep waters off Beruwala.

A separate parcel containing 19.85 kg of heroin discovered on Bentota beach yesterday morning.

Police confirmed that the suspects are being interrogated under detention orders as investigations continue into the origins of the narcotics and the missing boats.