A 35‑year‑old man has been arrested in the Enderamulla area with 2.325 kilos of heroin valued at more than Rs. 30 million, it was reported.

According to the Police Special Task Force (STF), the suspect was taken into custody during a raid conducted by officers of the STF Special Operations Unit in the Sunflower Gardens area in Enderamulla, Wattala. 

Investigators recovered the heroin stock from his possession. 

Initial inquiries revealed that the suspect is linked to the narcotics network of an organized criminal and drug trafficker.

The suspect and the seized drugs have been handed over to the Enderamulla Police Station for further investigation. (Newswire)

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A 40‑year‑old resident of Colombo 10 has been arrested with over 05 kilos of heroin during a raid carried out by officers of the Colombo Central Division Criminal Investigation Unit.

The raid, conducted on Ferguson Road in the Mattakkuliya Police Division yesterday (01), was based on information received by investigators. 

Officers seized 5.140 kilos of heroin, Rs. 50,000 suspected to be proceeds from drug trafficking, and two mobile phones used in the trade.

The suspect was taken into custody and presented to the Mattakkuliya Police Station. Further investigations are being carried out by the Mattakkuliya Police. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Navy has uncovered approximately 150 kilograms of heroin from a multi‑day fishing vessel intercepted in the deep sea south of the island.

Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara confirmed the discovery, noting the heroin’s estimated street value at around Rs. 4 billion.

During the special naval operation, officers found 150 packets of heroin concealed in six sacks aboard the vessel. 

Four suspects were taken into custody along with the boat, which was escorted to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour, early Friday morning. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Navy says a consignment of heroin has been found in the multi-day fishing trawler that was seized off the southwest coast yesterday. 

Navy Media Spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath stated the vessel was brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour today for an inspection. 

He further said that 298 parcels containing nearly 300 kilos of heroin valued at over 6.2 billion were found in the vessel.

Commander Buddhika Sampath said that six suspects have been arrested along with the narcotics and the fishing vessel. 

He added that following the inspection, the suspects and seized narcotics will be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations. (Newswire) 

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The Court of Appeal has upheld the death sentence imposed on a man convicted of possessing and trafficking 2.53 grams of heroin, dismissing his appeal against the High Court’s verdict.

The convict, Jayasingham Rajeev, also known as Sudakaran, was found guilty by the Colombo High Court for the possession and transportation of narcotics. He was subsequently sentenced to death.

Delivering the decision, a two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Shashi Mahendran and P. Kumaran Ratnam, affirmed the High Court’s ruling.

The case originated from a police raid conducted in the Madampitiya area in Colombo on March 17, 2014. During the operation, the accused was arrested while in possession of 2.53 grams of heroin.

Following the arrest, the Attorney General filed indictments against him in the Colombo High Court on charges of possessing and trafficking heroin. After a full trial, the High Court judge convicted the accused on all charges and handed down the death penalty.

Challenging this decision, Rajeev filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal. In his appeal, he argued that the High Court’s judgment was legally flawed. He contended that the trial judge had failed to consider material inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence and had not properly evaluated the legality of his arrest.

However, after reviewing the submissions from all parties, the Court of Appeal bench concluded that the High Court judge had correctly analyzed and evaluated the evidence. The bench stated that the verdict was legally sound and that they found no reason to intervene.

The Court of Appeal further held that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the death sentence was confirmed. (Newswire)

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A female Police Constable attached to the Badulla Division Crimes Investigation Unit has been arrested in Badulla town on charges of possessing narcotics.

She was taken into custody last afternoon (26 Jan) during a raid carried out by the Ambagasdowa Police.

Police said they recovered 4.2 grams of heroin from the suspect at the time of arrest.

Investigations have been launched to determine whether she had been keeping the drugs for distribution.

The arrested Constable is scheduled to be produced before the Badulla Magistrate’s Court today. (Newswire)

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A stock of 170 kilograms of heroin held as case material will be destroyed after completing the required court procedures, Police officials said.

The narcotics were released following formalities at the Puttalam Magistrate’s Court and will be transported under heavy security to the Police incinerator in Puttalam, where the destruction process is scheduled to take place this afternoon.

Police said the consignment is being moved under the protection of the Special Task Force, ensuring maximum security during transport and disposal. (Newswire)

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A boat seized by the Navy and brought to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour yesterday contained nearly 160 kilograms of ‘ICE’ narcotics valued at over Rs. 2 billion, Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) said. 

Addressing the media, the Deputy Minister of Defence, said that, in addition, more than 21 kilograms of heroin were also found on board.

The multi‑day fishing vessel, suspected of transporting narcotics in the deep seas south of Sri Lanka, was seized by the Navy and brought to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour, along with five suspects, for further investigations.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the vessel had originally departed from the Gandara area for fishing activities.

The drugs discovered on the vessel, together with the suspects, have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy says over 376 kilos of narcotics were seized from the six-crew vessel that was intercepted off the southern coast. 

According to the Navy, the consignment consisted of over 115 kilos of heroin, concealed in 05 sacks containing 100 packets, and over 261 kilos of ‘ICE’ narcotics in 13 sacks with 200 packets.

The stock is valued at an estimated Rs. 4 billion.

The Navy further stated that they also seized one pistol, two magazines, one revolver, and one Iridium satellite phone from the boat.

The 06 Sri Lankan fishermen and the boat were brought to Tangalle last evening, after being intercepted by the Navy.

Following the seizure, investigations also led to the arrest of a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) local government candidate from Pannala in connection with the drug operation. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Professional Principals’ Association has issued a statement today (14) clarifying facts regarding a principal of a primary school in the Eppawala area of Anuradhapura who was arrested with 1.185 kilos of heroin recently. 

The statement notes that although the arrested individual was identified as a “principal,” he is not a grade-holding principal in the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service.

According to the Professional Principals’ Association, it has now been confirmed that the individual is an officer of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service, and that he was serving in an acting capacity.

The statement further clarifies that the title “principal” should only refer to grade-holding officers of the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service.

The association adds that using the title “principal” for someone who is not a grade-holding officer is unfair to the Principals’ Service.

Moreover, the statement emphasizes that any future references to the individual should identify him as an “officer of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service.” 

The man is the husband of former National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Urban Councillor, Disna Neranjala, who is a relative of Kosgoda Suji, a known large-scale drug trafficker and criminal. (Newswire)

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Three suspects were arrested in the Seenigama area in Galle today (08) in possession of over 3 kilos of heroin.

The arrest was made during a joint raid conducted by officers of the Southern Province Special Operations Unit of the Police Special Task Force (STF), acting on intelligence received from military intelligence officers.

The suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue. (Newswire)

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Four suspects have been arrested with a large haul of heroin and ICE narcotics in the Homagama area.

According to the Police, 1.5 kilos of heroin and over 688g of ‘ICE’ were recovered from a house in Homagama. 

The suspects, three men and a woman, were arrested by the Kelaniya Police Crimes Investigation Unit. 

Further investigations are underway into the incident. (Newswire)

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A 39-year-old Indian national has been arrested by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Division at Katunayake Airport with a stock of heroin valued at Rs. 84.96 million.

According to the authorities, the man had arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at 4:15 pm yesterday (26).

The Sri Lankan authorities have discovered 2.832 kilos of heroin in his possession, concealed in his luggage. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the narcotics were intended to be handed over to local drug agents at a hotel in Bambalapitiya, Colombo.

The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (27). (Newswire)

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The Police have sought public assistance to find a Pakistani national wanted in connection with a large haul of heroin that was found off the coast of Sri Lanka in 2016.

Seventeen suspects were arrested along with 111.82 kilos of heroin during a raid conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) in Sri Lankan waters in April 2016.

Legal action was filed against the suspects, after which the wanted Pakistani national was released on bail in July this year, on bail conditions that he reports to the Police Narcotics Bureau every Sunday. 

The Police said the suspect had failed to adhere to the bail conditions, prompting the Police to present facts before the High Court, after which an arrest warrant was issued for him. 

The public with information on the suspect has been requested to contact the Police via 071-8591881 or 011-2343333, to assist the POlice in apprehending the wanted man. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Central Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau has arrested a woman with 03.99 kg of heroin in the Maligawatte Police Division on Tuesday (26).

According to the Police, the arrested woman, a resident of Angoda, was handed over to the Maligawatte Police.

Based on information revealed by her, the Colombo Central Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau arrested another 51-year-old woman with 106g of heroin in the Grandpass Police Division on the following day (27).

The suspect was produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate and was detained until 02nd September for questioning.

She has been handed over to the Slave Island Police for further investigations. (Newswire)

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Galle Police have recovered a stash of heroin weighing 14.8 grams hidden inside a toilet cistern at a luxury two-storey house in Nalagasdeniya, Hikkaduwa, thanks to the sharp nose of Police sniffer dog “Percy”.

Acting on a tip-off that the female owner of the house was involved in drug trafficking, officers from the Galle Division Crime branch conducted an extensive search of the premises. 

However, no drugs were initially found. The search was kept on hold until the suspect’s husband and children returned to the house.

Subsequently, narcotics sniffer dog Percy (No. 1511) was brought in. Percy successfully located the concealed heroin, wrapped in polythene and hidden inside the toilet cistern of the upper-floor bathroom.

Further investigations revealed that the suspect would allegedly toss drug parcels wrapped in polythene out of the upper floor, over the wall, when receiving an order.

The 39-year-old female homeowner has been arrested in connection with the incident. (Newswire)

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The Tangalle Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit has recovered 110.46 kilos of heroin in the Weeraketiya area during a special anti-narcotics operation carried out on Monday.

According to the Police, 100 packets of heroin were discovered in a house under construction located within a cinnamon plantation in the Athubode area in Weeraketiya. 

The seized narcotics have been handed over to the Weeraketiya Police, while further investigations are underway to identify the suspects involved in concealing the drugs.

The Police said the operation was part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal drugs and organised crime, being conducted under the directive of the Acting IGP. (Newswire)

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Two suspects have been arrested with over 100 kilograms of heroin in Weeraketiya, Hambantota. 

According to the Police, the narcotics had been seized from a house in the area.

The Police have launched investigations into the matter. (Newswire)

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A 42-year-old suspect has been arrested with 33 kilograms and 106 grams of heroin in Urugamuwa, Dikwella, following a raid by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).

According to Police, the suspect, a resident of Galhengoda, Urugamuwa, was in possession of narcotics allegedly belonging to a friend, who is a drug peddler and is currently overseas.

PNB is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A female school student was apprehended for the possession of heroin in the Kurundhuwatte area in Ambalangoda last evening.

It is reported that she was arrested by officials from the Elpitiya Divisional Crime Unit. 

The arrested girl is a 17-year-old student of a state school in Ambalangoda, preparing to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination this year.

The Police said preliminary investigations have revealed that the girl’s brother who had been remanded for drug peddling had returned home three days before. 

In his absence, his wife had operated the drug business, and as she was a mother to a young child and could not meet clients, she had used the girl to meet clients and receive payments. (Newswire)

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