Author name: Tharindu Withanage

Suspect arrested with Kerala Cannabis A group of Police officers in Police Narcotic Bureau( Jaffna Unit) have arrested a suspect who was in possession of 101 kg and 83 g of Kerala Cannabis, during a raid carried out at the Antani Puram beach in the Palali police division and produced them to the police station Palaly. The suspect has been identified as a 67-year-old resident of Wamunei. This stock of Kerala Cannabis was found in five fertilizer bags and Police Station Palaly is carrying out further investigations in this regard.   

Officers of the Police Special Task Force of the Gonahena camp raided an illegal liquor distillery being run in a house on Maya Terrace Mawatha in Kiribathgoda Police Area on the afternoon of 23.01.2025. The officers were able to find 4975 bottles of liquor with the capacity of180 ml, manufactured using the name and labels of a government-approved well-known liquor manufacturing company, 228 liters of liquor to be bottled, 110 liters of ethanol, a bottle sealing machine and many other tools and equipment. Along with these, 06 suspects aged between 27-37 years who were present at the place were taken into custody. The suspects have been identified as residents of Nuwara Eliya, Nawalapitiya, Kiribathgoda, Bombuwala and Kurunegala areas, and all the seized property, including equipment and alcohol, have been handed over to the Offier in Charge of the Excise Department, Ja Ela station, for further investigation. .

One officer of the Colombo North Division motorcycle team has acted to stop a car by shooting that was driving continuously despite police orders on the night of 23.01.2025 at Kalupalama area.    This shooting was done due to the failure of the attempt to stop the chase by the motorcycle, and one of the suspects who was traveling in the car got minor injuries.  These two suspects, aged 45, who have been found to be residents of Wattala area, have been submitted to Modara Police Station for further investigations.   

During a raid conducted on 22-01-2025, by the officers of Police Narcotics Bureau, 11 kilograms and 02 grams of Ice Drug (Crystal Meth), and 180 grams of Heroin, together with an amount of Rs. 255,000/=, suspected to have been earned by drug trafficking, have been seized from a house  in Kahantota Mawatha of Malambe. When the raid was conducted, a 31-year-old person who is a resident of Malwana area stayed at the house.  He was taken into Police custody together with a car parked at the house that may have been used for drug trafficking.  

Based on a piece of information disclosed by the suspect who was arrested on 16.01.2025, from the Ruhunuketha area of Welikanda and detained as per court order, officers of the Colombo Crimes Division were able to uncover and seize a locally manufactured 12-bore firearm, a T-56 magazine, 220 T-56 live ammunition, and 02 other live ammunition stashed behind his house in the Welikanda area. The suspect was previously arrested for the possession of a T-56 firearm, a magazine of the same, and 18 live ammunition and for selling a T-56 firearm to an individual for a sum of Rs. 200,000. The Colombo Crimes Division is conducting further investigations into the arms and ammunition smuggling done by this suspect and further arrests will be made as per the information that would be uncovered.  

In relation to the special operation launched on 12.01.2025 by the police stations island-wide as per the instructions given by the acting Inspector General of Police to eradicate drugs and criminal activities, the operations to apprehend identified criminals who directly involved in drug trafficking and criminal activities, are still being carried out. Within 10 days after launching this operation, 172,877 of individuals and 64,258 vehicles were inspected. These inspections are carried out as a special duty in addition to the daily traffic inspections carried out by the traffic police. Through these operations, 167 of suspects who were identified to be directly involved in crimes have been arrested. Moreover, 2561 of individuals who were issued warrants by the court were also arrested whilst being hiding. Within this period of 10 days, 3 T56 rifles and 3 pistols were apprehended by the police. Also, about 462 kg of Kerala Ganja, 15 kg of Hashish, and 08 kg of ‘ice’ were also apprehended by the police. The aim of this operation is to build up a crime- free society for the citizens to live without fear and suspicion and to that the Sri Lanka Police carries out these operations without any interruption. The Sri Lanka Police also seeks the fullest support and contribution of the public in carrying out this operation and making it a success.  

The Criminal Investigation Department has initiated investigations into the Ella Odyssey train e-ticket scam following a complaint received. Accordingly, on 22.01.2025, a Technical Officer serving in the Department of Railways in the Trincomalee area was arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department with 92 e-tickets. It was revealed through further interrogation from the suspect that he had kept these tickets to be sold to foreign and other tourists at a higher price. Moreover, another suspect involved in this incident has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Matale area, and based on information also received by the Kandy Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau, a suspect who had 29 e-tickets in his possession, was arrested with Rs. 131,000/- in cash. Steps have been taken to hand over the said suspect to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. The Criminal Investigation Department is conducting further investigations regarding the parties who had provided these e-tickets to these suspects.  

The Nuwara Eliya Police Station has initiated an investigation to arrest a suspect who allegedly intoxicated a person and fled with an amount of Two Hundred Thousand Rupees and two rings worth nearly Two Hundred Thousand Rupees in his possession.  The victim was waiting for the arrival of a bus bound for Hatton at the Nuwara Eliya bus stand on the afternoon of 18.01.2025, with Two Hundred Thousand Rupees in his possession that was to be given to a relative, and in the meantime he had a friendly conversation with a person who approached him. After a while, the unknown person had told him that he was going to Avisawella in a three-wheeler and that he could accompany him. He stated to the police officers that he had boarded the three-wheeler, expressing his willingness, but felt fatigued while passing Nanu Oya town, and that he had been dropped off in the Kotagala area under that condition. However, after reaching the relative’s house he realized the following day that the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Rupees, which was in his possession, and rings worth nearly Two Hundred Thousand Rupees that he was wearing, had gone missing. An extensive investigation is underway to establish the authenticity of the incident and to arrest the driver of the three-wheeler and the other suspect. “In a backdrop where such incidents are reported, do not overestimate and trust the strangers you meet on the road, no matter how friendly they may behave with you, and be careful not to tell them about the property or money in your possession.”   

A team of officers from the Police Special Task Force Ratgama Camp raided a house in the Magalla area of the Galle Fort Police Area on 21.01.2025, and a 53-year-old man, who was in possession of 29,600 foreign cigarettes that had been illegally imported into the country without paying duty, was arrested and handed over to the Galle Fort Police Station for further investigation. On the same day, a team of officers from the Police Special Task Force Talawakele Camp inspected a pharmacy on Fruithill Bazaar Mawatha in the Hatton Police Area and found 2,111 various types of narcotic pills and arrested a 45-year-old resident of Maskeliya who was the salesperson. He has been produced before the Food and Drug Inspector of the Office of Regional Director of Health Services, Nuwara Eliya District for further investigation.