Since the present government assumed office on September 21, 2024, Sri Lankan authorities have brought back 66 suspects linked to organized crime and drug trafficking who had fled abroad, it was reported.
According to state media Silumina, Police Headquarters reports that investigations into 113 cases involving these suspects have resulted in the freezing of assets worth Rs. 6,000 million (Rs. 6,000,154,630.75).
Of this, Rs. 5,423 million in assets belong to 102 drug trafficking suspects, while Rs. 209 million belong to three organized crime figures. Assets worth Rs. 367 million tied to eight individuals connected to pyramid fraud, child abuse, and explosive material offenses were also seized.
Among the frozen assets are 2 kilograms and 1,404 grams of gold, 136 acres of land, 55 houses, and 142 vehicles.
Of the suspects returned to Sri Lanka, 28 had Interpol red notices issued against them, while 38 did not.
Since September 2024, 110 new red notices have been issued through Interpol to facilitate extraditions. As of August 18, the total number of red notices issued by Sri Lanka Police stands at 236, including 96 for organized crime suspects.
Police data shows that 35 of these suspects have been identified as residing abroad: 18 in the United Arab Emirates, 11 in India, and one each in the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Canada, and Italy. (Newswire)