COLOMBO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard on Saturday seized more than 561 kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin during a joint operation on the country's southern coast, the navy said.
The operation was conducted at Naotunna beach in Thalalla, Matara, following information received by the Coast Guard.
Search teams recovered 21 sacks and travel bags containing suspected narcotics, alongside a dinghy believed to have been used to smuggle the consignment.
Examinations conducted with assistance from the Police Narcotics Bureau confirmed more than 240 kilograms of methamphetamine in 200 packages and over 320 kilograms of heroin in 275 packages, the navy said.
Deputy Defense Minister Aruna Jayasekara said joint Navy and Coast Guard operations over the past year had seized drugs with an estimated street value of 97 billion Sri Lankan rupees (about 292 million U.S. dollars).
He said coordinated operations involving the armed forces, police and local and foreign intelligence agencies would continue to prevent narcotics from entering the country.
Sri Lanka launched its national anti-narcotics drive "A Nation United" on Oct. 30 last year. Official data indicated that more than 303,000 suspects were arrested as of Oct. 18. ■
