Police identify culprit behind Beruwala drug bust

Colombo (News 1st) - 231Kg of heroin valued over Rs. 2.7 Billion was seized in the seas off Beruwala on Wednesday (Dec 5). Police stated that a notorious drug peddler who fled Sri Lanka is connected to this massive haul of heroin. The Police Narcotics Bureau noted that another 05 suspects have been identified and that 02 teams have been assigned to carry out investigations. A trawler used by the suspects in transporting heroin was also seized. Police Media Spokesperson, SP Ruwan Gunasekara stated that the Yatiyanthota Police arrested the owner of the trawler based on a tip-off received this morning. He stated that the owner of the trawler is Dinayadura Dulip Samantha De Silva who is also a sibling of another suspect arrested with the stock of Heroin. SP Ruwan Gunasekara stated that when the officers were about to make the arrest the suspect had dived into the Kelani River in order to escape but the Police officers had managed to arrest him. SP Gunasekara also noted that the suspect had Rs. 1.5 Million in cash in his possession when he was discovered. He added that the suspect had withdrawn the money from a private account maintained in a bank in Yatiyantota.