(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Commander of Sri Lanka Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage has instructed the commanders of Security Forces Headquarters and all relevant parties to expand operations and intelligence surveillance duties on drug trafficking.
The Sri Lanka Army said 981 people have been arrested for illegal drug trafficking during raids conducted in coordination with the Sri Lanka Police and Special Task Force (STF) of Police, acting on the intelligence gathered by the Army last year.
In the respective raids, nearly 715 kg of Kerala Cannabis, nearly 685 kg of loal Cannabis, nearly 13 kg of ICE (crystal methamphetamine) and nearly two kg of heroin have been seized. Apart from that, kush and hashish drugs have also been seized.
Along with the seized illegal drugs, 831 suspects have been arrested and handed over to the Sri Lanka Police for law enforcement.
Also, 89 suspects were arrested along with nearly 28,000 liters of illegal local liquor and 57 bottles of foreign liquor and handed over to the Sri Lanka Police.
In addition, 61 suspects were arrested along with 11,893 illegal cigarettes, 75,181 drug pills and 155 pills of Madana Modaka in the year 2022 in operations conducted with the police and Special Task Forces following the intelligence received by the army.
Also, according to the intelligence information provided by the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Police and the Special Task Force have conducted a large number of illegal drug raids.
In addition to today’s announcement, and in response to the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, Canada announced $3 million to the appeals launched by the United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to address immediate needs, including food security and livelihoods, shelter and non-food items, as well as nutritional assistance and primary healthcare services for vulnerable children and women.
Canada has also readjusted ongoing international assistance projects to address pressing needs, providing support, for instance, to the World Health Organization for the procurement of essential medical equipment and supplies.
