Navy renders assistance for elimination of drugs
 

The Navy renders its fullest assistance to the joint national effort for elimination of drugs launched under the direction of His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena to create a country free of drugs.

The Navy has taken swift action against a number of cases involving the possession and sale of drugs in violation of the Excise Ordinance. Accordingly, it has apprehended a large quantity of drugs smuggled into the country via sea and arrested a large number of drug dealers and handed them over to the law enforcement authorities for legal action.

Based on naval intelligence, 29.9 kilogrammes of heroin, 1,466.5 kilogrammes of Kerala cannabis and 3,219.7 kilogrammes of cannabis have been taken into naval custody during the period beginning from January this year up to now. Further, 3 kilogrammes of hashish, 118 packets of Madana Modaka (aphrodisiac pills), 33,286 capsules of pain killers, 8,660 illegal cigarettes, 128.45 kilogrammes of illegal tobacco products and 182 litres of illegal alcohol were also seized by the Navy. 193 persons including 08 Indian nationals were also taken into naval custody along with these drugs and handed over to the law enforcement authorities for legal action.

The Navy, in close coordination with the national task force to eliminate drugs, continues its operations against drug smuggling via sea as well as on land under the direction of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah.