SI, two suspects in drug deal further remanded

SI T. Sanath Kumara de Silva (52), the former OIC of Kalutara Police Judicial Affairs Section and resident of Pothupitiya North, Wadduwa; Ramaiah Sammuganathan, a resident of Aluth Mawatha, Colombo 15 and Yogaraja Arulnath, a resident of Ekala Road, Ja-Ela were remanded in this way.

On the previous trial date, Narcotics Bureau Officials submitted to Court that the Sub Inspector had allegedly engaged in drug trafficking earlier as well in uniform. They pleaded the Magistrate to order the Prison Superintendent to detain him separately from the other two suspects.

The Officials further submitted to Court that they suspected certain foreign links to the drug deal and producing 10 more mobile numbers they requested the Magistrate to issue an order to the relevant mobile telecommunication companies to provide the police with an analyzed call report on the phone numbers. The Magistrate issued the orders to the Superintendent of Prisons and the relevant telephone companies.

At the Baddegama Exit of the Southern Expressway, around 9 pm on June 18, the Organized Crime Investigation Special Unit Officials followed the car bearing the registration No. CBK 7758 and arrested the SI in it and sezed 51.728 kg of heroin in a black suitcase hidden in the vehicle.

The other two suspects who had come in a van to receive the heroin were also arrested near the Expressway Athurugiriya Entrance.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Salidu Malshika Gunasekera alias Salidu Malli of Panadura, who is abroad, is involved in the drug racket.The suspect had been transporting heroin in his uniform to escape from the searches at the roadblocks.