Satellite Phone Linked to Southern Sea Drug Smuggling

COLOMBO (News 1st); A suspect who allegedly provided a satellite phone to a fishing vessel taken into custody by the Navy in the southern seas has been arrested.

The arrest was made at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake.

The Police Narcotics Bureau stated that the suspect was arrested while arriving in Sri Lanka from Nepal.

The suspect is a resident of the Udumulla Maha Induruwa area.

Meanwhile, another fishing vessel allegedly involved in supplying narcotics to the vessels brought under the custody of security forces and taken to the Dikovita Harbour was seized by the police yesterday at the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour.

Five suspects were arrested along with this vessel.

The Police Narcotics Bureau stated that investigations have revealed the narcotics had been supplied to this vessel from an Iranian vessel.

More than 296 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and heroin were discovered yesterday from the fishing vessels taken into custody by security forces in the southern seas.

At present, 17 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, and they are being questioned under seven-day detention orders.