Over 120,000 arrested in Sri Lanka's nationwide drug crackdown

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Tuesday, August 12, 2025

12/08/2025

Over 120,000 arrested in Sri Lanka's nationwide drug crackdown

A Sri Lankan police officer shows a parcel of narcotics recovered from a suspected drug offender during a search operation in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Jan 18, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

COLOMBO, Aug 12, (Xinhua): Over 120,000 Sri Lankans have been arrested for various drug-related offenses between Jan. 1 and Aug. 11, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on Monday night. Of them, 39,627 were arrested for the possession of heroin and related offenses, 47,615 for the possession of crystal methamphetamine (ICE), and 42,620 for cannabis-related offenses, the ministry said.

Law enforcement officers also seized 934.55 kilos of heroin, 1,402.9 kilos of ICE, and 11,620 kilos of cannabis, the statement said. The ministry stated that it will continue its operations, deploying the Sri Lankan police and the tri-forces, to eradicate the drug menace, suppress organized crime, and reduce accidents across the country.