Over 4.5 tonnes of cannabis plants siezed during STF raids given for local medicines

The STF raided a large scale cannabis cultivation, grown illegally on 2 acres of land in the vicinity of the Veheragala Maha Ela in  Lunugamvehera National Park and seized 18,815 cannabis plants weighing over 1,481kgs.

The STF also arrested three suspects along with an additional 37 kilograms of dry cannabis during the raid.

A team of officers from the STF base in Kataragama have arrested suspects aged between 42 and 58 following the raid. 

Also, a foreign made 12 bore firearm and 03 bullets were seized from the suspects.

The suspects were handed over to the Tissamaharama Police Station for further investigations.  

The STF said the total consignment of cannabis plants seized during the raid was handed over to the Department of Ayurveda  following a court order by the Thissamaharama Magistrate.

Currently, the Ayurveda Department reportedly manufactures 74 local medicines using cannabis

Meanwhile, the STF said more than 4,500 kilograms of cannabis plants seized by the STF during the past one year have been handed over to the Department of Ayurveda.

The raid was carried out by STF team under the direct supervision of STF Commander DIG Waruna Jayasundara based on information given the Sri Lanka Air Force. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)