547 arrested for using illegal drugs at public places in WP

A total of 547 persons have been arrested during a four-hour special raid in the Western Province last night for using illegal drugs and consumed illicit liquor in public places.

Police said the raids were carried out from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. last night targeting those who used illegal drugs and consumed liquor at places such as bus terminals and railway stations, public toilets, cemeteries and abandoned places in the Western Province.

Police said 265 suspects were arrested for using heroin while 27 were arrested while using Ice drugs. Police seized 89.8 grammes of heroin and 24.3 grammes of Ice from the suspects’ possession.

They said 136 suspects who were using cannabis and 107 who were consuming illicit liquor were taken into the custody with 537 bottles of illicit liquor.

Police said the special operation was conducted on the instructions of Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon and that raids will be carried out in the coming days as well targeting those who use drugs and illicit liquor.

Meanwhile, a total of 789 suspects wanted over various crimes were arrested during raids conducted in the Western Province within 24-hours yesterday.

Police said two suspects were arrested while transporting 18,900 drug pills worth Rs. 3.7 million in a lorry at Modara.(DSB)