by Norman Palihawadane
,Eight suspects who were nabbed with a stock of narcotics in a joint operation by the Navy, State Intelligence Service and Police Narcotic Bureau in a special operation in the seas about 229 nautical miles (424km) off Dondra, were brought to the Colombo Port yesterday.
The haul of narcotics included over 128.3 kilos of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and 106.4 kilos of heroin.The SLNS Samudura also intercetped another local fishing trawler with six suspects who had arrived to refuel the drug-carrying trawler.
When the consignment of drugs and the suspects were brought to the Colombo Harbour, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera arrived there to inspect the consignment.The gross street value of the consignment of drugs seized during this operation is believed to be over Rs. 4,586.755 million.
The suspects held in the operation have been identified as residents of Tangalle, Nakulugamuwa, Kosgoda and Balapitiya and they are from 29 to 59 years of age. They will be handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) for onward legal action.