Colombo, March 24 (IANS) The Sri Lanka Navy on Sunday detained nine Iranian nationals who attempted to smuggle 100 kg of heroin into the island country.

The Iranians were nabbed off the country's southern coast following a joint raid conducted by the Special Task Force and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), reports Xinhua news agency.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects threw 50 kg of the heroin into the sea as the officers was approaching their trawler.

Sri Lankan investigators have launched a major crackdown on drug dealers and smugglers since January, with several arrests made within the past two months.

Last month, President Maithripala Sirisena said he would impose the death penalty on convicted drug traffickers.

--IANS ksk/mr