• Loki Pattie associate cum org. crime suspect nabbed with weapon, ammo, Ice 
• Navy, Coast Guard and Fisheries Dept. nab 77 for illegal fishing 
• 120 foreign racketeers remanded 

A janitorial supervisor of the National Hospital in Kandy has been injured and hospitalised following a shooting incident at Gohagoda, in Katugastota, according to the Police.

A suspect has been arrested in the Ambalangoda, Balapitiya area for the possession of a foreign-manufactured pistol, one magazine, 16 live rounds of ammunition, and 11.5 grams of the narcotic substance crystal methamphetamine (Ice). The arrest was made during a raid carried out by a team of officers from the Ahungalla Police Station. The suspect has been identified as a 31-year-old resident of Balapitiya. Investigations have revealed that the firearm had been handed over to him a few days earlier by another individual, aged 22-year-old and a resident of Balapitiya, who was also arrested on 2 May in the Ambalangoda, Wadduwa area. Further inquiries have uncovered that both the suspects are associates of the organised crime figure known as Loku Pattie. It is believed the firearm had been provided to them with the intention of carrying out a crime.

Elsewhere, under the directives of the Inspector General of Police, a large number of individuals were taken into custody during island-wide operations conducted to prevent crime and drug trafficking. A total of 26,346 individuals were screened during operations carried out on 3 May. Of these, 548 individuals were arrested on suspicion, while 147 persons were directly identified as being involved in criminal activities. In addition, 212 individuals with outstanding warrants and 158 suspects named in open warrants were apprehended during these operations. Furthermore, 135 individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, and 83 were taken into custody for reckless driving.  Legal action was also initiated against 3,996 individuals for various other traffic-related violations.

Also, the Navy, working with the Coast Guard and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department, apprehended 77 individuals for illegal fishing practices during search operations from 17 to 30 April. The operations, spearheaded by the Eastern, Northern, and North-Western Naval Commands, spanned across Kattanthalei, Karumalaiyootru, Valaichchenai, Kallarawa, Kinniya, Thuduwa, Kayankerni, Bolder Point, Sampoor, Chilawaththai, Irakkandi, Mohoththuwaram, Panichachankerni, and the Nandikadal Lagoon in Trincomalee. Furthermore, surveillance was tightened across Veththalakeni and Point Pedro in Jaffna, as well as the coastal stretches of Savaripuram in Mannar. The crackdown also led to the recovery of 17 dinghies, six tractors, fishing gear, illegally harvested sea cucumbers as well as commercial explosives utilised for these illicit activities. The suspects, together with the seized items, were handed over to the Department offices in Kokkilai, Mullativu, Jaffna, Valaichchenai, Kuchchaveli, Silavathurai and Kinniya for onward legal proceedings.

Further, the group of foreign nationals arrested on 3 May, at a location on Meda Welikada Road in Rajagiriya, has been remanded in custody. The suspects were produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate R.D. Janaka on 3 May, following which the remand order was issued. Accordingly, after considering the facts presented, the Magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded until tomorrow (6). The group was arrested on charges of engaging in illegal financial operations and other unlawful activities. Police apprehended 120 foreign nationals at a multi-storey apartment in the area. Among those arrested are individuals from several countries, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia. A number of computers and mobile phones found in their possession were also taken into Police custody. Investigations revealed that the suspects had rented several floors of the apartment and were operating the illicit business from the premises.