What makes Sri Lanka’s $76 million drug haul its biggest crackdown this year
Sri Lankan authorities have seized more than three tonnes of illegal drugs so far this year, with an estimated street value of $76 million, according to officials.
The narcotics were mainly smuggled in by sea and believed to have originated from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told reporters on June 23 that drug trafficking remained a serious threat to the country.
He said there were around 400,000 drug users in the country, which has a population of 22 million.
“We need to reduce demand while keeping up detections,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s police chief Priyantha Weerasooriya said the drugs seized this year were worth nearly 23 billion rupees, close to the total value of all drugs seized in 2024.
Authorities have arrested over 1,000 suspects for drug-related crimes in recent months.
Among them was a 38-year-old Thai woman caught at Colombo airport on May 30 with nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine, the largest such seizure at a Sri Lankan entry point.
Three other people from Britain, India and Thailand were also arrested in May after trying to smuggle about 60 kilograms of synthetic cannabis.
They are now facing life in prison if found guilty.
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