Businessman who carried pills worth over Rs.18 Mn arrested

The Katunayake Police anti-narcotics division yesterday arrested a businessman who smuggled pills worth over Rs.18 million at the BIA yesterday. The drug is used   to treat epilepsy and anxiety. Customs sources said that this drug is also used by some heroin addicts to overcome anxiety, when they are unable to obtain heroin.The businessman had arrived from Chennai, India.

Importing this drug without the approval of the Health authorities has been prohibited.

Police found over 60,000 tablets of the drug in the possession of the suspect.During questioning, he said that a person he met in Chennai handed over this stock of medicine pills to him to take to Sri Lanka promising to pay Rs.10,000 per kilogramme upon delivery.

This drug is said to cost around Indian Rupees 20 but the local price is around Rs.300 per pill.

The businessman has said he bought a stock of the drug on a previous occasion as well.

He is to be produced in court.