Acting IGP orders to freeze accounts of drug traffickers and confiscate property

Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said the accounts will be frozen as per the provisions available in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. while the movable and immovable property of the suspects will be confiscated by the state.

Sri Lanka Police said it collected information on all criminal gangs and gangsters operating in the country and sting operations will be in place to arrest those gang members.

Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon speaking to reporters on Tuesday (23) said these operations will take place in the coming weeks.

He said the Criminal Investigations Department is already taking necessary measures to trace and arrest criminals with links to gangs in Sri Lanka and are residing overseas.

Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said the CID is investigating a bank account to which over 490 Million rupees were credited, based on information obtained following the interrogation of a suspect who was arrested by the Special Investigations Unit of Mirihana.

The Criminal Investigations Department is currently tracing the transfers and withdrawals made with respect to that particular account.

Further another 120 Million Rupees, earnings from the drug trade, was credited to a bank account in Minuwangoda, said the Senior DIG adding the CID is probing that account as well.

Sri Lanka Police said it now has information on all criminal gangs and gangsters that were operating from Maligawatte and the City of Colombo since 1996.

Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon said these gangs were engaged in drug trafficking since the 1990s and assassinated members of rival gangs.

He said possible victims of those gangs have been identified and the Police Special Task Force is leading a separate operation on the matter.

The Senior DIG said as Police Officers also face threats, at times they will be compelled to act for their own safety.