Millions generated in drug trafficking discovered following multiple arrests

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Western Province Intelligence on Saturday (Aug. 1) arrested four suspects in connection with trafficking heroin, Sri Lanka Police said. According to Sri Lanka Police, it was revealed that one suspect had received 75 million rupees to his account from overseas. Information had come to light regarding the drug racket, during interrogation of three suspects who were arrested on the 31st of July, at the Rajagiriya junction while they were travelling via a vehicle. The arrest was made based on intelligence received regarding three suspects who were attempting to obtain 75 million rupees illegally. During the arrest, 9.065 grams of Heroin was discovered in the vehicle and based on information retrieved from the suspects, another individual in connection with the drug racket was arrested in Pelawatte on Saturday (Aug. 1). The suspects aged, 32, 38 and 42 are residents of Vavuniya, Pannipitiya, Pitakotte and Battaramulla. The sum of 75 million rupees was deposited to the account of the suspect who is a resident of Vavuniya, Police said. Further, Police had inspected the accounts of five more people based on information retrieved from the suspect arrested in Pelawatte, Battaramulla. According to police, it was revealed that a total of over 310 million Sri Lankan rupees and US $409,000 were deposited to these accounts from overseas. "The suspects will be further interrogated based on detention orders received after they were produced at the Hulftsdorp Magistrates Court," the Police Media Division said in a statement said.