Six suspects remanded over drug smuggling via multi-day fishing vessel

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo, April 17 (Daily Mirror) - Colombo Additional Magistrate Mohomad Rizwan today remanded six suspects while were arrested in connection with the alleged illegal import and trafficking of 78 kilograms of heroin and 43 kilograms of the narcotic known as “Ice” till April 30.

The suspects , Ranjitha Moditha, Dhiwan Lakshitha, Upul Priyankara, Umidu Anuththara, Udayanga Dilshan and Gayan Samantha were remanded today by the Magistrate.

According to the investigations, the suspects were arrested on April 13 following intelligence information received by the Sri Lanka Navy and were later handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigations.

The PNB informed court that the massive drug haul had been smuggled into Sri Lanka with the support and backing of a notorious drug trafficker named Sepala Malwee, and that the fishing vessel used for the operation had been managed by a foreign trafficker.

Investigations also revealed that the primary suspect had received Rs. 3.5 million as an advance payment for the operation. 

Authorities are currently conducting further inquiries into international calls received aboard the vessel during the smuggling operation.