955 more suspects arrested during operation ‘Yukthiya’

A total of 955 more suspects have been arrested by Sri Lanka’s police and security forces personnel within a 24-hour window ending at 12.30 a.m. today (Jan. 23) as part of the ongoing countrywide anti-drug operation ‘Yukthiya’.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the narcotics taken into custody during this 24-hour window include 187g of heroin, 126g of crystal methamphetamine (Ice), 14kg and 700g of cannabis, 28,277 cannabis plants and 136 narcotic pills.

633 of the 955 suspects were arrested over drug-related offences, while the other 322 suspects have been identified as listed criminals in numerous police divisions, including the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Police Special Task Force (STF).

Further investigations are being conducted into seven suspects against whom detention orders were obtained, while three others are being investigated for the possession of illegal assets, and 17 suspects were sent to rehabilitation.