News Today: Sri Lanka drug trafficking arrests and crystal meth seizures 2024 show 161% increase, with over 228,000 offenders arrested nationwide.

Sri Lanka recorded a dramatic rise in drug-related arrests in 2024, with Police data showing a 161 percent increase in drug trafficking offences compared to 2023. Authorities arrested more than 228,000 people for drug-related crimes, representing a 41 percent jump from the previous year. In 2023, Sri Lanka reported 162,088 drug-related offences, highlighting the scale of the surge.

Of the 228,450 arrests in 2024, a staggering 68,132 were linked to crystal methamphetamine (ice), accounting for about 29 percent of the total. By contrast, only 26,096 individuals were arrested in 2023 for offences related to the same drug, underscoring its rapid spread in the country. Police noted that the use of crystal methamphetamine was first detected in Sri Lanka in 2017, and most users fall within the 19–26 age group, raising concerns about youth addiction and its social impact.

Data from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) revealed that in 2024, 75,097 people were arrested for heroin-related offences, while 75,602 were arrested for cannabis-related offences. The figures confirm that heroin, cannabis, and crystal meth remain the most commonly trafficked and abused substances in the country.

Authorities also made significant drug seizures in 2024. According to NDDCB statistics, 832.3 kilos of heroin, 10,220 kilos of cannabis, and 1,364 kilos of crystal methamphetamine were confiscated. In comparison, 2023 seizures included 850.7 kilos of heroin, 8,359 kilos of cannabis, and just 83.2 kilos of crystal methamphetamine. This reflects a 1,539 percent surge in crystal meth seizures year-on-year, highlighting the scale of trafficking networks and intensified enforcement operations.

Experts warn that while the rise in arrests and seizures indicates stronger crackdowns by authorities, it also reflects the growing challenge of drug abuse and trafficking in Sri Lanka, requiring coordinated policy measures, rehabilitation programs, and community-level awareness to combat the crisis.