By Norman Palihawadane

A joint operation conducted by the Navy, Coast Guard and the Police Narcotics Bureau in the coastal area of Polwathumodara, Weligama, on Saturday night, yielded more than 200 kilos of heroin being smuggled into the country by sea.

During the special search operation, the Navy had found 219.8 kilos of heroin with a street value of over Rs. 1,758 million, and arrested nine suspects in connection with the smuggling attempt, police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

The DIG said that the special operation had been conducted on intelligence provided by the State Intelligence Service.

The stock of drugs was found concealed in sacks and in gas cylinders. The contraband had been brought to the shallow waters off Weligama by a multi-day fishing trawler and later transferred to a dinghy to be brought ashore at Polwathumodara.

The Navy also seized the multi-day fishing trawler, the dinghy and arrested the nine suspects aboard the vessels.

DIG Rohana said that the investigations had revealed that the multi-day fishing trawler had left the Kottegoda fisheries harbour, Matara on May 11 and it is believed that the consignment of narcotics had been transferred to the trawler by foreign smugglers in international waters.

The suspects arrested during the operation are residents of Weligama, Ahangama, Dikwella, Kottegoda, Ihalawatta, Mirissa, Polwathumodara and Piliyandala. They are between  26 and  43 years of age.

The Navy and Police Narcotic Bureau are conducting further investigations.