25 gangs, 400 gangsters in the WP: SDIG Thennakoon

30 August 2020 04:45 pm - 7 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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At least 25 criminal gangs operated in the Western Province with nearly 400 members, Western Province, Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon revealed.

He said that a total of 388 members were operating in 25 gangs and that 20 gangs had been identified as highly active criminal gangs.

“However, 130 gangsters in remanded custody,” he said.

He made these revelations at a workshop held in Colombo on resolving issues related to the suppression of all organized crimes and drug trafficking in the Western Province.

“The main challenge we have to face is they still operate their drugs or underworld activities trough mobile phones while being detained in remand prisons,” he said.

Senior DIG Thennakoon said that 346 individuals among the 388 were still at active.

He said 123 members of those gangs were on bail.

“During the recent arrest it was revealed that those on bail are still engaging in extortion and drugs trafficking,” he said.

The Senior DIG said that 16 of the individuals wanted over crimes were unable to be located and that 25 are overseas.

He said the Police are in the process of issuing red notices on them while they had already issued 19 red notices after obtaining open warrants trough courts.

Meanwhile, SDIG Thennakoon said that the number of drug addicts in the country had now exceeded 533,000.

He said that more than 25,000 of them were in the Western Province.

“Most of the money transferred for drug trafficking is through mobile phones and we will take action in this regard in the future,” he said.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)

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Comments - 7

Milinda Sunday, 30 August 2020 04:47 PM

D I G Tennekoon. 25 underworld gangs. For the underworld to develop this network it may have taken some years and who supported them ? Is there a possibility that unscrupulous politicians are behind this. They may have been funded by the underworld in their day to day luxury living and election campaigning. Please expose the real big wigs who manage the underworld. These culprits should be punished and jailed. Their civic rights should be striped off, passports impounded. Finger printed and blood samples taken for D N A testing

Suresh De silva Sunday, 30 August 2020 04:54 PM

I have a question were you’ll were sleeping all those past years during Yahapalanaya??? This is the first question I like an answer please

Neville Gunasekara Sunday, 30 August 2020 04:59 PM

It will be interesting to know how many politicians, their off-springs, or their stooges are there in this 400?

J Jayawardana Sunday, 30 August 2020 05:03 PM

How many police gangs? How many SLPP gangs? How many under police protection?

Lanka putha Sunday, 30 August 2020 05:05 PM

So why are you waiting for it. Why don't you start arresting and take action. Being a very high rank police officer you should not be reveal this offical information. Hope you will clear mother Lanka

Tamil Sunday, 30 August 2020 05:37 PM

In the 70s a Tamil Superintendent of Police created a crime busting unit in Colombo and boasted and convinced everyone that he would solve all the crime and drug problems quickly. His popularity grew but in practice he achieved nothing in crime and drug control. Fifty years later we are in the same situation.

GHarry Sunday, 30 August 2020 07:18 PM

May GOD BLESS your mission successful sir. At least now onward, we see a BEAUTIFUL SRI LANKA for the future generation.

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25 gangs, 400 gangsters in the WP: SDIG Thennakoon

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