Drug Trafficking Will Not Be Allowed to Continue; Deputy Defence Minister
23-Nov-2025.
Deputy Defence Minister (Retd.) Major General Aruna Jayasekara warned that those engaged in drug trafficking must immediately stop such activities, stating that the government’s goal is to eradicate the drug trade entirely.
Speaking at the Tangalle fisheries harbour after a deep-sea fishing vessel was brought ashore with a large narcotics haul confiscated by the Navy, he said:
On November 19, Navy personnel carried out a special operation in the deep southern seas and intercepted a vessel carrying drugs. Acting on international intelligence shared with Sri Lanka, the Navy’s long-range operation unit arrested the suspects and seized the vessel. Investigations confirmed that the items recovered were narcotics.
A total of 200 kg of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and more than 100 kg of heroin were seized, valued at around 4 billion rupees. Two firearms and two magazines were also recovered.
Drug trafficking and weapons smuggling are widespread criminal activities. Under this government’s anti-narcotics program, all agencies have been empowered to act independently—something previous governments intentionally restricted.
So far this year, nationwide operations have seized 1,500 kg of heroin, 15,000 kg of cannabis, 32 kg of cocaine, 3,000 kg of Ice, 631 kg of hashish, and over four million narcotic pills. Additionally, 69 T-56 rifles, 79 pistols, 52 revolvers, and a total of 2,171 firearms have been recovered.
The Navy alone has seized 898 kg of heroin, 5,410 kg of Kerala cannabis, 2,254 kg of cannabis, 2,480 kg of Ice, 33 kg of hashish, and 1.6 million narcotic pills—valued at roughly 60 billion rupees.
The public must unite with the government to eradicate narcotics from the country. Drug trafficking will not be allowed to continue under any circumstances. Police, the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and international partners are working together. Just as we stood united during the war, we must unite now for this mission.
