The Ampara Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau has arrested four suspects in connection with the theft of detonators, service cords, and a can of water gel from a gunpowder warehouse in Alahena, Damana.

The arrests follow a complaint made to the Damana Police Station on 4 May about the missing explosives. The warehouse in question is a licensed facility that supplies gunpowder and other explosive materials to authorised institutions.

Following an investigation, officers from the bureau arrested the four suspects — aged 24, 32, 39, and 56 — on Monday (5) night and in the early hours of yesterday (6). The suspects are residents of the Hingurana and Alahena areas.

Based on the information obtained from the suspects, the Police had recovered 4,100 stolen detonators, a box containing 25 service cords (each 10 metres long), and 45 kilograms of water gel packed into nine packets, each containing 40 capsules.