BY AGRA RANASINGHE The Sri Lanka Navy has brought its offshore patrol vessel (OPV) with a large quantity of drugs along with the suspects in high seas, about 548 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka, to the Dikkowita Harbour last (15) morning. Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva said this mission was the result of a successful operation carried out by the Navy based on information received from persons aboard the vessel arrested on 28 March. Based on that information, a shipload of narcotics was found off the coast of Sri Lanka. Immediately responding to the situation, on 30 March, the offshore patrol vessel SLNS was sent to sea for a 14-day mission. Meanwhile, the Navy Commander emphasised that the fishing community should continue their livelihoods so as not to get caught in the drug trade. The Navy has seized 718 kg of heroin, 797 kg of stalled methamphetamine, 581 kg of ketamine, and 2,475 kg of cannabis in the first three-and-a-half months of 2020 under a record-breaking narcotics operation. These massive drug consignments are worth Rs. 21 billion. Navy Commander Vice Admiral De Silva and several senior officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Navy participated in the event. Meanwhile, the Police Narcotics Bureau plans to carry out further investigations into the arrested vessel, the suspects, and the drug paraphernalia.