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| Sri Lanka: Thousands arrested in week-long anti-drug operation | Sri Lanka: Thousands arrested in week-long anti-drug operation |
| (12 days later) | |
| Drug raids are not uncommon in Sri Lanka | Drug raids are not uncommon in Sri Lanka |
| Police in Sri Lanka say they have arrested almost 15,000 people during a week-long drive against drug traffickers across the country. | Police in Sri Lanka say they have arrested almost 15,000 people during a week-long drive against drug traffickers across the country. |
| They say the operation led to the seizure of almost 440kg of various types of narcotics, including heroin. | They say the operation led to the seizure of almost 440kg of various types of narcotics, including heroin. |
| Local media showed footage of officers using sniffer dogs to search homes in Colombo and other places. | Local media showed footage of officers using sniffer dogs to search homes in Colombo and other places. |
| Rights activists said the raids were illegal as they were conducted without search warrants. | Rights activists said the raids were illegal as they were conducted without search warrants. |
| A police spokesman told the BBC that warrants were not always required to check for drugs. | A police spokesman told the BBC that warrants were not always required to check for drugs. |
| Officials say that a total of 13,666 suspects were arrested during the operation and that 1,097 addicts have been sent to a military-run rehabilitation centre. | Officials say that a total of 13,666 suspects were arrested during the operation and that 1,097 addicts have been sent to a military-run rehabilitation centre. |
| Vehicles and property belonging to alleged criminals were also seized. | Vehicles and property belonging to alleged criminals were also seized. |
| Activists have said the raids targeted underprivileged neighbourhoods. | Activists have said the raids targeted underprivileged neighbourhoods. |
| According to experts, traffickers are using Sri Lanka as a hub, and the drugs passing through the country - including heroin, hashish and cannabis - are creating serious problems. | According to experts, traffickers are using Sri Lanka as a hub, and the drugs passing through the country - including heroin, hashish and cannabis - are creating serious problems. |
| Officials say the searches have been paused for Christmas but will resume next week. | Officials say the searches have been paused for Christmas but will resume next week. |
| Sri Lanka's biggest drug haul by weight was in December 2016, when police seized 800kg of cocaine. | Sri Lanka's biggest drug haul by weight was in December 2016, when police seized 800kg of cocaine. |