Photograph: Adaderana
Sri Lankan police say they have made the largest drug seizure in the island’s history, after 705 kilograms of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were uncovered during a raid in Tangalle this week.
The discovery, valued at nearly Rs. 10 billion on the street, included 284.94 kilograms of heroin and 420.976 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘ice’. Police also recovered a T-56 assault rifle and five pistols, heightening concerns about links between the narcotics trade and wider organised crime networks.
The breakthrough followed a tip-off regarding three suspicious deaths at a house in Seenimodara, Tangalle. When police arrived on 22 September, they found two bodies inside the residence. A third man, critically ill, later died in hospital. Post-mortem examinations confirmed that the victims had ingested multiple narcotics, including crystal meth.
During subsequent operations, officers uncovered three lorries loaded with narcotics that were believed to be prepared for distribution. Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Kithsiri Jayalath, heading the Southern Province, described the seizure as a “major blow” to trafficking networks in the region.
Police said the narcotics belonged to a single trafficker known as ‘Unakuruwa Shantha’, a wanted figure suspected of managing operations from abroad. The registered owners of the lorries have been taken into custody, while six suspects in total are now under arrest and being interrogated under seven-day detention orders.
The operation has also uncovered a wider network. In a related raid in Middeniya, Thalawa, and Kariyamadiththa, police found weapons buried at the base of a garbage mound, including two gold-coloured T-56 magazines, 118 rounds of ammunition, a 9mm pistol and a hand grenade. Investigators believe the cache was concealed by associates of suspects already in custody.
Police are continuing to pursue further leads, with officials warning that the size of the haul points to a trafficking syndicate with international links.
Sri Lanka has in recent years been flagged by regional watchdogs as an emerging transit hub for narcotics moving between South Asia and international markets.