COLOMBO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan police has seized narcotics valued 130,000,000 Sri Lankan rupees (852,800 U.S. dollars) during raids conducted so far this year, a minister said on Wednesday.

Issuing a statement to the media, Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayake said the Special Task Force (STF), attached to the police, was deployed to conduct raids against narcotics, and vowed to eradicate the drug menace and the underworld criminal activities from the country as soon as possible.

He added, the 5,385.266 grams of heroin were seized during raids conducted up Wednesday by the STF.

About 303 suspects involved in drug peddling have been arrested by the STF. Besides, the Organized Crimes Prevention Division of the police has also conducted 160 raids and arrested 167 suspects, he said.

The minister said there is a nexus between narcotics peddling and the underworld criminal activities.

"The underworld is operated by some individuals living overseas. We have made plans to arrest and bring them back to be charged. We will continue with our raids," he said.