Fishing vessel brought to Galle after suspected narcotics seizure

Sri Lanka’s Navy has brought a multi-day fishing vessel to Galle following an operation south of the island in which more than 100 packets of suspected narcotics were found, according to the published report’s account of Navy and intelligence activity. Five people aboard were taken into custody.

The report describes more than 50 packets believed to contain methamphetamine and more than 52 believed to contain heroin, stored in six sacks. Packet counts are not weights, and the suspected substance descriptions are not a substitute for final laboratory confirmation.

The vessel was reported to have left Mirissa on September 21 and to have been intercepted on November 11 after intelligence about suspected trafficking. Police Narcotics Bureau officers were conducting further examinations to establish the exact quantity and weight. No verified street value is available in the reviewed account.

Custody is not a conviction. This report does not identify the detained people, determine their roles or assert guilt. The sea illustration is not a photograph of the operation, seized materials or vessel.

November 13 evening update: estimated weight reported, valuations differ

Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said on November 13 that about 110kg of suspected heroin and methamphetamine had been found aboard the vessel intercepted on November 11 and brought to Galle. He described five suspects and an estimated street value above Rs1.5 billion. Those figures are his attributed preliminary account, not laboratory-confirmed contents or a final reconciled valuation.

A separate account describes 52 suspected heroin packets and 50 suspected methamphetamine packets in six sacks, quotes a value above Rs2 billion and says weighing was still under way. The two monetary estimates differ. Packet counts must not be treated as kilograms, and this report does not choose a final value while the examination remains incomplete.

The Navy's November 12 operational notice confirms the interception of a trawler carrying sacks suspected to contain narcotics in southern waters and the transfer of the vessel and suspects for further legal action. The earlier account above is retained with its original packet-count and evidence limits. Arrest does not establish guilt.