Excise officer suspended after being arrested with ice

• Two Excise teams to probe and report on officer 

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Hiran Priyankara  

Nine suspects including an Excise Department officer were arrested with 125 grammes of the Ice drug also known as Crystal Methamphetamine near the Puttalam lagoon early yesterday,  Police said.   

The suspects were arrested during a raid carried out by officers of the Puttalam Division Crimes Unit with the assistance of intelligence services of the Air Force.  
Another Excise Officer involved in the drug deal had fled the scene and Police are investigating to arrest him.  

Meanwhile, Excise Deputy Commissioner and Media Spokesman K. Kumarasinghe said the services of the arrested Excise officer had been suspended with immediate effect by the Commissioner General of Excise.