Author name: Tharindu Withanage

The Airport Unit of the Police Narcotics Bureau has successfully apprehended two suspects in possession of a significant consignment of Kush and Hashish that had been smuggled into Sri Lanka by air. The narcotics were recovered during a special operation carried out at the arrival terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, yesterday (25) morning. The raid was conducted based on intelligence information received by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau, during which the following quantities of drugs were seized: First suspect: Found in possession of 4 kilograms and 162 grams of Kush and 1 kg and 912 g of Hashish. Second suspect: Found in possession of 6 kg and 230 g of Kush. Total quantity seized: 10 kg and 392 g of Kush and 1 kg and 912 g of Hashish. Police have confirmed that both suspects are 30-year-old residents of the Kottaramulla area. It is suspected that the narcotics had been brought into the country from overseas. The Airport Unit of the Police Narcotics Bureau is continuing further investigations into the incident.

The Katunayake Airport Unit of the Police Narcotics Bureau successfully apprehended a suspect in possession of a large consignment of Kush narcotics, valued at several crores of rupees, which had been smuggled into the country by air this morning 25.02.2026 Acting on specific intelligence information received by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau, the narcotics were detected during a search operation conducted at the arrival terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. The suspect had carefully concealed 8 kg and 220 g of Kush within his luggage in an attempt to illegally bring the drugs into Sri Lanka and was subsequently taken into police custody. The arrested individual is a 37-year-old resident of Delgoda. The Airport Unit of the Police Narcotics Bureau is continuing further investigations to identify the principal traffickers behind this drug network and any other persons involved.  

A team of officers from the Special Task Force (STF) Akmeemana Camp arrested a suspect in possession of an illegal firearm and live ammunition during a operation carried out on the evening of 24.01.2026. Acting on reliable intelligence information, STF officers conducted a search at a residence in the Wathugedara area within the Ambalangoda Police Division. During the search, officers recovered a micro-type pistol along with live ammunition that had been carefully concealed inside a room of the house. The arrested suspect is a 33-year-old resident of the Wathugedara area. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspect had intended to sell the firearm to another party. The suspect and the recovered items have been handed over to the Ambalangoda Police for further inquiry. Ongoing investigations are being conducted by the Ambalangoda Police.

  Police Special Task Force – Akmeemana Camp Officers of the Police Special Task Force (STF) Akmeemana Camp arrested a suspect in possession of 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ice) on the night of 23.01.2026 at Vidyachandra Mawatha in the Dikkumbura area of Ahangama. The arrested individual is a 26-year-old resident of the Bandaramulla area in Mirissa. The arrest was made based on a tip-off received from the Army Intelligence Unit. The suspect is currently in the custody of the Ahangama Police for further investigations.  Western Province Southern Crime Division Officers of the Western Province Southern Crime Division arrested a suspect on the evening of 23.01.2026 in the Pussella area of the Thalangama Police Division. The suspect was found in possession of 400 grams of heroin and Rs. 320,000/= (Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Rupees) in cash, suspected to have been proceeds from drug trafficking. The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Kaduwela. Further investigations are being carried out by the Western Province Southern Crime Division.  Batticaloa Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau A team of officers from the Batticaloa Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau conducted a raid in the Eravur area on the night of 23.01.2026 and arrested a suspect in possession of 113 grams and 600 milligrams of crystal methamphetamine (ice), along with Rs. 207,200/= (Two Hundred and Seven Thousand Two Hundred Rupees) suspected to have been earned through drug trafficking. The suspect was subsequently handed over to the Eravur Police. The arrested individual is a 42-year-old resident of the Eravur 03 area. Further investigations are being conducted by the Eravur Police.

During a special operation conducted by the Western Province Southern Crime Division, the principal suspect involved in a murder and a separate shooting incident in the Dehiwala area was arrested in possession of a foreign-manufactured revolver. The arrest was carried out on the afternoon of 23.01.2026 within the Kottawa Police Division. The arrested individual is a 35-year-old resident of Dehiwala. Investigations have revealed that he is a former member of the Sri Lanka Army who was lawfully discharged from service in 2013. Based on information obtained during interrogation, police were able to recover the foreign revolver used in the crimes, which had been concealed inside an abandoned house within the Dehiwala Police Division. The suspect has been identified as the second gunman involved in the shooting incident on Wanaratne Road, Dehiwala, on 06.12.2025, in which one person was killed and another sustained injuries. The other suspect connected to this crime was previously arrested in possession of a 16-bore firearm and has since been remanded. Further investigations have also confirmed that the arrested suspect was the primary shooter in a separate incident on 30.12.2025, during which a 16-year-old girl was shot and injured in the Bodhiwatte area of Kohuwala. According to police investigations, both shooting incidents were carried out under the instructions of an organized criminal and drug trafficker who is currently residing overseas. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today (24.01.2026), while further investigations are being conducted by the Western Province Southern District Crime Division.

(01) Colombo North Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau – A team of officers from the Colombo North Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau conducted a raid in the Stayspura area, Grandpass on the evening of 21.01.2026 and arrested a suspect with 213 g of heroin and presented them to the Grandpass Police Station. The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Colombo 14. (02) Madampitiya Police – On 22.01.2026, a team of officers from the Madampitiya Police, who had inspected three suspicious persons in a three-wheeler parked near the Sathhiru Sevana Apartment Building, Madampitiya, arrested three persons in possession of the drug Ice. One suspect was found in possession of a bag containing 01.300 kg of ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 18,000/- (eighteen thousand) in cash believed to have been obtained from heroin trafficking. The second suspect was found in possession of 100 g and 150 mg of ice, and the third suspect was found in possession of 201 g of ice. The suspects are 24, 32 and 29 years old and are residents of Wellampitiya, Mattakkuliya and Colombo 15. Madampitiya Police is conducting further investigations into the two suspects. (03) Mount Lavinia Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau – On the evening of 22.01.2026, a team of officers from the Mount Lavinia Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau was able to arrest a person in possession of 154 g and 300 mg of hashish and 15 g and 300 mg of ice at the junction turning into Isurusiri Mawatha in the Egodauyana Police Division. At the time of arrest, the suspect was in possession of Rs. 105100/= (one hundred and fifty thousand) and the money was suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking and was handed over to the police. The Egodauyana Police is conducting further investigations. (04) Haldummulla Police – A team of officers from the Haldummulla Police arrested a suspect with 32 kg of cannabis at the Ilukpelassa Reserve, Haldummulla on the morning of 22.01.2026. The suspect is a 45-year-old resident of Kalthota. Further investigations are underway by the Haldummulla Police. (05) Kelaniya Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau – A team of officers from the Kelaniya Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau conducted a raid in the Kandana area on the morning of 22.01.2026 and seized 30 g and 120 mg of the drug Ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 51,000/= (fifty-one thousand) suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking. The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Wellampitiya. (06) Hambegamuwa Police – A cannabis farm with 12580 (twelve thousand five hundred and eighty) cannabis plants cultivated in an area of about one acre in the Siripura Reserve area of Hambegamuwa and a cannabis farm with 11700 (eleven thousand seven hundred) cannabis plants cultivated in an area of about one acre were discovered and destroyed by a team of officers of the Hambegamuwa Police Station on 22.01.2026. Also, two suspects were arrested with 21 kg and 300 g of cannabis and 17 kg and 300 g of cannabis in the Hambegamuwa 17 Colony area. The suspects are residents of the Hambegamuwa area aged 51 and 63 years.  

Two suspects were arrested on 22.01.2026, when a team of officers from the Madampitiya Police searched a three-wheeler parked near the Sathhiru Sevana Apartment in Madampitiya and found ice in their possession. The two suspects were arrested along with the three-wheeler. The suspects are 24 and 29 years old and are residents of Wellampitiya and Colombo 15. One suspect was found in possession of a bag containing 01.300kg of Ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 18,000/- (eighteen thousand) in cash suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking, while the other suspect was found in possession of 201g of ice. Further investigations are being conducted at the Madampitiya Police regarding the incident.