PNB Officers named as suspects on drug trafficking charges

By Yoshitha Perera   

Three people including two Police Officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) were named as suspects in a case field against several PNB officers in 2020 on connection with drug trafficking charges.   

When the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddika Sri Ragala, Deputy Solicitor General informed Court that the three individuals were under detention and had been interrogated for nearly nine months. Earlier, the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court remanded twenty suspects who served at the PNB in connection with similar charges.   
Attorney-at-Law Ajith Pathirana appearing on behalf of the suspects informed the Magistrate that his clients were in the remand custody for nearly nine months and that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was dragging the investigation.   

He requested the Magistrate to issue an order to Government Analyst to produce the report pertaining to the case. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the Government Analyst to produce the report.  Later, 23 suspects who were arrested in connection with drug trafficking charges were further remanded till March 30 by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.   
Meanwhile, another case which was filed against nine officers at PNB under Money Laundering charges was also taken up before the Court.   

The Magistrate who rejected the bail application of the suspect, further remanded them till March 30.