The owner of the lorry carrying heroin and crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘Ice’) in Seenimodara, Tangalle, on Monday (22), has been arrested. Mount Lavinia Magistrate Pasan Amarasena yesterday (23) ordered that the suspect be detained for questioning by the Mount Lavinia Police. The police identified him as a resident of Ratmalana.
At the time of arrest, the suspect had in his possession 11 grams and 140 milligrams of heroin. He was subsequently handed over to the Mount Lavinia Police Station.
The suspect was produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday (23).
The police found the lorry parked near a house at Seenimodara, Tangalle, where the bodies of two men were found earlier in the day. Altogether, the police found three lorries loaded with narcotics.
Among those who had been so far arrested, in connection with the ongoing investigation, are two sons of the person who died after being hospitalised from a house in Seenimodara, Tangalle, from where police also recovered two bodies.
Police estimated the street value of narcotics found in the three lorries at Rs. 9,888 million.
The seized narcotics included a total of 705.91 kilograms comprising of 284.94 kilos of heroin and 420.976 kilogram of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘Ice’).
The police also recovered a T-56 assault rifle and five unpacked pistols.
Police investigations have revealed that the seized drug stock belongs to an underworld figure, known as ‘Unakuruwa Shantha’, who is widely believed to be based in Dubai. Police identified the person who died at the hospital as ‘Unakuruwa Thusitha’, believed to be the operator of Shantha’s drug distribution network in the country.