• 2 sons of person who died after admission to hosp. nabbed, along with owners of 3 lorries
• Strap: Man and woman nabbed at BIA with Rs. 50 m Kush

Police have arrested two sons of the individual who died after being hospitalised from a house in Seenimodara, Tangalle, on Monday (22), where a large haul of narcotics was found in three lorries, the Police stated.

According to the Police, the estimated street value of the drugs found in the three lorries is approximately Rs. 9,888 million. The seized narcotics included a total of 705.91 kilograms (kg) comprising 284.94 kg of heroin and 420.976 kg of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’). The seizure was made during a special operation conducted on Monday based on information received following the suspicious deaths of two individuals found inside the house. During the search, Police also recovered a Type-56 assault rifle and five unpacked pistols.

Police investigations have revealed that the seized drug stock belongs to an organised crime suspect known by the alias ‘Unakuruwa Shantha’, who is suspected to be operating drug-trafficking activities from abroad.

The individual who died on Monday while receiving treatment at the Tangalle Base Hospital has been identified as ‘Unakuruwa Thusitha’, believed to be the local operator of Shantha’s drug-distribution network in Sri Lanka.

In connection with the case, Police have so far arrested six suspects, including the two sons of the individual who died in hospital. Additionally, Police confirmed the arrest of the owners of the three lorries in which the drugs were concealed. All suspects were scheduled to be produced before the Tangalle Magistrate’s Court (MC) yesterday (23).

The owner of a lorry that was found concealing heroin and crystal methamphetamine in Seenimodara, on Monday, has been ordered to be detained for questioning. Mount Lavinia Magistrate Pasan Amarasena issued the order to allow the Mount Lavinia Police to question the suspect in connection with the discovery of a large haul of narcotics. The suspect has been identified as a resident of Ratmalana. The lorry was discovered by the Police near a house in Seenimodara, where the bodies of two men had previously been recovered. The narcotics were found hidden near the property. Following the discovery, officers from the Police Special Task Force arrested the suspect – identified as the owner of the lorry – in possession of 11 grams and 140 milligrams of heroin. He was subsequently handed over to the Mount Lavinia Police Station. The suspect was produced before the Mount Lavinia MC yesterday, where the order was issued.

Meanwhile, new details have come to light regarding the bodies of two males discovered inside a partially renovated house in Seenimodara, Tangalle. The bodies were found by the Tangalle Police on Monday morning. According to reports, an individual who had recently purchased the old house had commenced constructing a boundary wall around the property, and renovation work had been ongoing for several days. Three labourers had been employed to assist with the renovations, and according to the Police, the workers had consumed alcohol inside the house on 21 September night. One of the individuals had suddenly fallen ill, and after notifying his children, they had arrived and admitted him to the hospital, where he had passed away early Monday morning. The deceased was identified as a 50-year-old resident of Vitharandeniya, Tangalle. Following a complaint lodged by the children of the individual, Police officers had visited the property on Monday morning to conduct further investigations. During their search, two more bodies were discovered inside one of the rooms of the house. The deceased were identified as a 21-year-old and a 24-year-old, both residents of Nonagama, Ambalanthota. Police further reported that a large haul of crystal methamphetamine was found near the two bodies.

Elsewhere, two suspects have been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake while attempting to exit the airport with a large consignment of ‘Kush’ cannabis, worth over Rs. 50 million, yesterday morning. The duo was arrested by the Narcotics Control Unit of the Customs while attempting to exit the airport through the Green Channel at the BIA, which is designated for passengers with no items to declare. The suspects include a 29-year-old woman from Colombo and a 48-year-old man residing in Chennai, India. Investigations revealed that the duo had purchased the consignment of ‘Kush’ in Bangkok, Thailand, and subsequently travelled to New Delhi, India, before arriving in Katunayake on the Air India flight AI-277 at 6.50 a.m. yesterday. According to officials, a search of their two pieces of luggage and a backpack led to the seizure of five kg and 92 grams of ‘Kush’ concealed in five separate bags. The seized narcotics, along with the two passengers, have been handed over to the Katunayake Airport’s Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.