{
  "id": 27844,
  "title": "Police arrest over 239,000 suspects in nine-month anti-drug drive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/police-arrest-over-239-000-suspects-in-nine-month-anti-drug-drive",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T00:00:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/police-arrest-over-239000-suspects-in-nine-month-anti-drug-drive/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Sri Lankan Police have announced the arrest of over 239,000 suspects over a nine-month period as part of an intensified anti-drug campaign. ASP F.U. Wootler, Police Media Spokesman, revealed that 995 major drug traffickers were among those apprehended, with legal action initiated against them through the judicial system. Additionally, investigations have been launched into the illicit assets of 378 individuals suspected of involvement in narcotics-related activities, with legal proceedings initiated to seize assets valued at Rs. 772 million identified in the first few months of 2026. The police also seized significant amounts of narcotics, including 2,253 kilos and 834 grams of heroin, valued at Rs. 49,584 million, 2,640 kilos and 695 grams of crystal methamphetamine, valued at around Rs. 42,251 million, and nearly 3.6 million narcotic tablets. The operations have also highlighted concerns over the increasing involvement of youths in drug-related offenses, with 7,866 persons aged between 18 and 21 and 743 children between 14 and 18 arrested.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}