Colombo — Sri Lankan law-enforcement’s 2025 crime offensive is yielding record hauls across drugs and illegal weapons, according to official briefings and police data reviewed by News365.lk. So far this year, police say they have recovered 955 kg of heroin, 1,422 kg of crystal methamphetamine (ICE), 471 kg of hashish, 29 kg of cocaine, 13,773 kg of ganja, 3.5 million narcotic pills, and 1,721 firearms — including 61 T-56 assault rifles and 62 pistols.
These seizure totals align with a pattern of escalating interdictions reported by the Ministry of Public Security and national media through mid-year and early September. In an official update at end-July, authorities cited more than 928 kg heroin, 1,396 kg ICE, 11,192 kg cannabis, 27.8 kg cocaine and 381 kg hashish seized to that point, which has since climbed with September operations.
Independent tallies also show the illegal-firearms haul passed 1,600 weapons by early September — a figure consistent with the police total of 1,721 now reported — as the campaign has increasingly targeted guns tied to drug and gang networks.
What changed in 2025
- Bigger maritime & transit hits. Navy and police data show sustained interdictions of ICE on sea routes; the Navy alone reported 1,217.6 kg of ICE seized by 12 September 2025 across 45 incidents.
- Nationwide sweeps & arrests. By late July, over 120,000 people had been arrested for drug-related offenses in 2025, reflecting the scale of operations nationwide.
- First-half surge confirmed. Press briefings mid-July indicated 13,554 kg of narcotics seized in the first half of 2025, foreshadowing the larger totals seen now.
Why the weapons numbers matter
Beyond narcotics, the 2025 drive is also aimed at disrupting gun access for organized crime. Police updates in August–September detailed multiple recoveries of T-56 rifles, pistols and ammunition during drug-linked raids, with forensic checks underway to tie seized weapons to recent shootings.
Regional and global context
Sri Lanka’s seizures come amid record synthetic-drug interdictions region-wide. An INTERPOL-coordinated operation this month reported 76 tonnes of drugs intercepted, including 51 tonnes of methamphetamine and 297 million meth pills, underscoring the scale of supply pressures across Asia.
Safeguards & scrutiny
Rights groups previously warned that aggressive anti-drug campaigns can risk due-process violations; officials have defended the operations as necessary to disrupt trafficking networks. Continued transparency on arrest outcomes and rehabilitation pathways will be critical as the campaign progresses.
The bottom line
- Drugs: 2025 seizures now stand at 955 kg heroin, 1,422 kg ICE, 471 kg hashish, 29 kg cocaine, 13,773 kg ganja, and 3.5 million pills.
- Weapons: 1,721 firearms recovered, including 61 T-56s and 62 pistols — consistent with early-September tallies that already surpassed 1,600 illegal firearms.
