COLOMBO, July 17 -- Police arrested several individuals and seized large quantities of narcotics and smuggled cigarettes during a series of raids conducted across the country over the past 24 hours, authorities said.

In one operation, officers attached to the Mount Lavinia Police, acting on a tip-off, arrested a 37-year-old man in the Borupana area while he was travelling on a motorcycle.

Police said the individual, a resident of Madapatha, was found in possession of 671 grams of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as 'ice', and 20 grams of heroin. Further investigations are being carried out by Mount Lavinia Police.

In a separate raid, officers of the Colombo Crime Division arrested a 54-year-old resident of Colombo 14 on Ferguson...