By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
Investigations conducted into a boat detained last week with a consignment of heroin hidden inside had revealed that the main traffickers were Iranian and Pakistani nationals, stated the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB).
PNB Director T.C.A. Dhanapala told The Sunday Morning that instructions had been given by the main traffickers to obtain the heroin consignment from a boat near the Maldives.
Investigations conducted into a boat detained last week with a consignment of heroin hidden inside had revealed that the main traffickers were Iranian and Pakistani nationals, stated the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB).
PNB Director T.C.A. Dhanapala told The Sunday Morning that instructions had been given by the main traffickers to obtain the heroin consignment from a boat near the Maldives.
The nine Iranians detained by the PNB for seven days were remanded on the orders of Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne after preliminary investigations had concluded.
It was reported that the PNB officers had told the Magistrate that the consignment of heroin weighing some 70.69 kg, which was in their possession, was sent to the Government Analyst for identification and analysis.
The PNB suspects the final destination was to be Sri Lanka but before the boat reached the final destination, the Navy detained it.
As per investigations conducted so far, there was no Sri Lankan connection revealed, but it is suspected that some traffickers who are either in prison or abroad were involved in it.