At a news conference held yesterday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mahinda Balasuriya said the crack down on narcotics was continuing with over 11,000 persons being taken into custody during the past three weeks on drug-related offences. He said the recent raids had dealt the narcotics trade a severe blow.
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| The IGP said between October 13 and November 5, a total of 11,639 individuals were arrested for possession of heroin, marijuana, babul and madanamodaka.
He added during this period 4 kg of heroin, 7,400 kgs of marijuana and 1,680 kg of babul had been seized by police.
Pic. By Athula Devapriya |
He added so far 3,119 cases had been filed during the period, while search operations conducted had been able to net four-and-a-half kg of heroin.
In addition 7,447 kg of cannabis had been seized.
The IGP said special operations were launched in the Moneragala area to crackdown on cannbis cultivation in the area. The operations were carried out in conjunction with the Special Task Force (STF).
Meanwhile the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) are on the trail of two key figures in the drugs trade.
“We managed to gather important information regarding their mode of operation.
We arrested some of their peddlers who have provided us with vital information. We have also got several phone numbers of some of the high ranking drug peddlers”, he said.
Last Friday a major distribution point in Maligawatte was raided.
During the raid 5,875 packets of babul weighing 58 kg were seized and one person was arrested.
This centre distributed drugs to all parts of the country, under the guise of tea and indigenous medicines.
On Friday evening four Indian nationals were arrested when the navy acting on information provided, intercepted an Indian fishing trawler which carried around 3,000 packets of beedis.
The four Indian national who are said to have come from the southern port city of Chennai were later handed over to the Kalpitiya police.
The IGP said PNB sleuths were interrogating three persons who were arrested for involvement in the distribution of 2.5 kg of heroin valued at Rs. 15 million.
The sleuths are trying to ascertain where the heroin was to be distributed and identify others involved in the racket.
The haul of heroin was discovered in Grandpass.
The IGP added between October 13 and November 5, a total of 11,639 individuals were arrested for possession of heroin, marijuana, babul and madanamodaka.
He said during this period 4 kg of heroin, 7,400 kgs of marijuana and 1,680 kg of babul had been seized by police. |
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