Sri Lanka arrests over 303,000 suspects in year-long anti-drug operation

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 303,017 suspects during a year-long anti-narcotics campaign, "A Nation United", cabinet spokesperson and Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said on Tuesday.



The arrests were made between Oct. 30, 2025, when the campaign was launched, and Oct. 18, 2026, Jayatissa told the weekly cabinet media briefing. He said authorities conducted 97,074 raids targeting heroin and seized 2,485.1 kg of the drug, while 18,710 raids involving crystal methamphetamine resulted in the seizure of 3,302.7 kg.



Police also seized 297.1 kg of cocaine, 11,146 kg of cannabis, 1,723 kg of kush, 416 kg of hashish and 4.5 million narcotic pills during the operation. Jayatissa said investigations into illegal assets had been initiated against 449 suspects, while detention orders were obtained against 3,749 suspects.



A further 2,580 people were referred for rehabilitation, he said. So far in 2026, authorities have seized 1,469 kg of heroin, 7,703 kg of cannabis, 272 kg of cocaine, 857 kg of hashish and 1,649 kg of crystal methamphetamine.