Army Sergeant arrested for keeping explosives

A team of Matara Police officers unearthed a cache of explosives, other accessories and ammunition from the garden of a retired Army Sergeant’s two-storey house in Thihagoda on Wednesday night (08).

The Police found 03 kg and 350 grams of C04 high explosives, 01 bar of explosives weighing 610 grams, 02 bars of explosives weighing 205 grams each, 01 bar of explosives weighing 105 grams, 288 ammunition of 9mm type, T56 type 181 ammunition, five 3.8 mm type ammunition, 08 ammunition used for 12 bore type firearms, 10 electronic detonators used to detonate bombs, 153 non-electronic detonators, a smoke bomb, 32 feet of wire used to detonate explosive devices and several other items.

The 48-year-old retired Army Sergeant who owns the house has been arrested.Police say that this retired sergeant runs a small shop with food items. The police had also found 153 sweet balls mixed with cannabis in the shop.

This sergeant retired from military service in 2016. Investigations have revealed that this stock of explosives was taken from time to time before he retired and was hidden in the garden.

The Police also say that this suspected sergeant was also in charge of the armory of an army camp in Mullaitivu. During questioning, he said that he had taken these military equipment from the camp and kept them as he had a liking to them.

Police information stated that the Police received information about these explosives from a person who heard the suspect talking about a deal to sell them to someone.