Punchi Borella Otha alias Wasantha Sanjeewa Abeyweera who was wanted in connection with the alleged transportation of 17 kilos of heroin concealed in a coffin from Borella to Minuwangoda was arrested by the Borella police last evening.

Police had arrested Otha in Borella following  a tip off that 17 kilos of heroin obtained from  Dinush (a pal of Kudu Thilan, who was taken into custody on July 16th in Wanathamulla) had been concealed in a coffin and transported to Minuwangoda.

The heroin allegedly taken by the suspect to Minuwangoda had been sold, and police are conducting envestigations to trace this stock.

The suspect, after his arrest, had declared that he was suffering from a kidney ailment and police had admitted him to the General Hospital, Colombo for treatment. Police suspect that this may be a ruse by the suspect to escape from the hospital.

In seemingly related stories about heroin and its traffickers, comes this new story of a pal of Kudu Thilan known as Podi Sudu whose latest model Alto car had been taken into custody by the Norwood police on a request made by the Borella police. This car had been taken into custody from a bungalow in a tea estate in Norwood which is said to belong to Podi Sudu. Police had also received information about   another two houses in Norwood belonging to him.
Police have launched a separate investigation to arrest him.

SSP Anura Senanayake, DIG Gamini Mathurata, SSP Premalal Ranagala and ASP Roshan Dias are directing the investigations conducted by a team of senior officers of the anti vice squad. (Dayaratne Pathirana)