Colombo – July 30, 2025
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested more than 122,000 individuals in connection with drug-related offenses since the beginning of 2025, according to official figures released by law enforcement agencies.
The large-scale crackdown comes as part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat the rising threat of narcotics trafficking and addiction, which continues to impact communities across the island.
The arrests include individuals involved in possession, distribution, trafficking, and manufacturing of illegal substances. Authorities say a significant portion of those apprehended were caught with heroin, cannabis, synthetic drugs, and narcotic pills.
A senior police official stated that the anti-narcotics operation, carried out with support from the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), Excise Department, and Special Task Force (STF), aims to dismantle drug networks operating at both local and transnational levels.
“This is not just about arrests, but about disrupting the entire supply chain. We are tracking high-level operatives, drug mules, and distribution cells,” the official added.
In addition to the arrests, authorities have seized significant quantities of drugs, vehicles, weapons, and cash believed to be linked to drug operations. Several high-profile underworld figures have also been detained or are under investigation.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and rehabilitation centers have called for a more balanced approach that includes prevention, education, and treatment, especially for drug users and youth vulnerable to addiction.
Human rights advocates have urged caution, stressing the importance of due process and rehabilitative justice, particularly for first-time offenders and those arrested with minor quantities of drugs.
The government maintains that the crackdown is essential to safeguard public health and security, but has acknowledged the need for long-term strategies that go beyond arrests alone.
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