President Anura Kumara Dissanayake questioned how police calculate street values of seized drugs while reviewing progress of the nationwide anti-drug operation in Galle District.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised questions about police methodology for estimating the street value of confiscated narcotics during a Galle District Special Coordination Committee meeting on Tuesday. The inquiry emerged as officials briefed the President on outcomes from the "Ratama Ekata" anti-drug initiative, which commenced in October 2025.

Police officials explained that their valuation approach relies on prevailing market prices in specific geographic areas. The price of drugs varies significantly by location, they noted, illustrating the point with heroin as an example. In the Galle area, a packet containing approximately 70 to 80 milligrams of heroin typically sells for around Rs. 2,000, though prices differ elsewhere in the country, including higher-value markets such as Colombo.

According to officials, the anti-drug operation in Galle District has yielded substantial results since its October 2025 launch. Police have conducted 2,607 drug raids across the district, resulting in the seizure of approximately 119 kilograms of narcotics. Beyond the immediate confiscations, authorities have intensified efforts against major trafficking networks, with more than 100 significant drug traffickers currently subject to asset investigations aimed at tracing how they acquired properties, vehicles, and other assets suspected of being purchased through proceeds from illicit drug sales.