COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s navy on Sunday arrested six Indians trying to smuggle 13.5 kilos of heroin into the country, a spokesman said. The Sri Lankan ship on patrol detected a suspicious movement at IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line) from Indian waters to Sri Lankan territorial waters in the wee hours, the Sri Lankan navy said in a statement. “The suspected boat movement was continuously monitored by the patrolling ship,” the navy said. The suspects were disguised as fishermen, navy spokesman Chaminda Walakuluge said. “Drug smugglers operate disguised as fishermen,” Walakuluge told AFP. “We are on alert for drugs coming in.” The drug parcels believed to contain heroin were taken to the Kankesanthurai harbour. The six Indians will be handed over to the Kankesanthurai Police for further investigation, it said.
Sri Lankan Navy regularly arrests drug traffickers approaching to the northern waters of Sri Lanka, the statement added. In 2014, Sri Lanka sentenced five Indian fishermen to death for drug smuggling, but they were later released into Indian custody. The killing of an Indian fisherman last month along the maritime boundary led to widespread protests in Tamil Nadu.
