Consignment of bags suspected to contain drugs found on Talalla beach

Daily Mirror, Newsfirst, Newswire and Ada Derana report that the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard conducted a joint operation near Naotunna, in Thalalla, Matara, on October 24, recovering sacks and travel bags containing suspected drugs. Initial accounts from Daily Mirror and Newsfirst put the quantity above 475kg.

Sri Lanka Mirror and Newswire report that subsequent examination confirmed approximately 239.764kg of methamphetamine, commonly called Ice, and 321.941kg of heroin, totalling about 561.7kg. Newswire reports an estimated value exceeding Rs. 11.8 billion; Newsfirst (සිංහල) reported an earlier estimate above Rs. 4.5 billion. Sri Lanka Mirror says the drugs were packed in 10 sacks and 11 travel bags.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that a dinghy believed to have been used in the operation was also taken into custody, and that the drugs and boat were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. It says preliminary inquiries linked the consignment to two traffickers known by aliases, without providing further confirmed details about their identities.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that the shipment was allegedly transferred in deep water from an Iranian multi-day fishing vessel to a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, then loaded onto the dinghy as the Sri Lankan vessel neared shore. The outlet says Coast Guard intelligence had received information during preparations to bring the drugs into the country, prompting several days of surveillance along the southern coast. It reports that the dinghy’s engine struck a rock off Naotunna and its occupants began swimming toward shore, and that investigators were seeking the Sri Lankan fishing vessel.

Written automatically by AI from the outlets’ own reports, and not reviewed by an editor. It can be wrong — the original report is the authority.