Over Rs. 67 million worth of vehicles seized Island-wide crackdown on criminals Over 4,000 arrested

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

The police have identified a total of 4,760 suspects listed as Island Re-convicted Criminals (IRCs) in the country. The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has identified 1,420 suspects on the IRC list, while the Special Bureau has identified 3,340 suspects.  

The majority of these individuals are spread across the provinces, with 1,722 listed in the Western Province, 506 in the Southern Province, 361 in the Central Province and 226 in the Northern Province.   

Additionally, 452 suspects are listed in the Sabaragamuwa Province, 325 in the Uva Province, 385 in the North Central Province, 402 in the North West Province and 371 in the Eastern Province.  

Meanwhile, during a week-long island-wide operation launched by the police, 285 suspects from the IRC list were arrested within the first two days.   
Police said 116 suspects were arrested on Sunday and an additional 169 suspects were arrested on Monday.  The week-long island-wide operation launched on Sunday to crack down on drug traffickers and those engaged in organized crimes led to the arrest of another 2,166 suspects including 88 females on Monday, totalling the number of suspects arrested withing the first two days to 4,287, the Public Security Ministry said.  
Police arrested a total of 2,166 suspects in 2,210 raids conducted within the 24 hours ending at 12.30 am yesterday. Police said more than 800 suspects have been arrested during the raids conducted in the Western Province on Monday.  
Among the suspects arrested during the operation, 66 are being investigated under detention orders, while 169 among them are on the IRC list of the Police Narcotics Bureau. Also, investigations into assets have been launched into 14 suspects, and 226 persons have been referred for rehabilitation.  
Police said that during this period, they recovered 01 kg and 370 gms of heroin, 07 kgs of cannabis, 556 gms of Ice narcotics, 3.5 kgs of Mawa and 1,075 narcotic pills.  Police arrested a total of 2,121 suspects on Sunday.  The island-wide special operation was launched at 4 a.m. on Sunday and will continue till December 23.  Meanwhile, during the operations conducted throughout the island, the police have taken custody of several vehicles with an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 67 million, suspected to have been purchased with money earned through drug trafficking.  

The seized assets include two luxury vans, three cars, a jeep, a motorcycle, and two tippers.   

Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon said yesterday that every effort would be exerted to confiscate properties acquired through illegal activities.  “Even if the criminals flee the country or are in hiding, legal action will be taken against their illegally acquired property,” he said.  He made these remarks while inspecting the seized vehicles at the Illegal Assets Investigation Division in Narahenpita.  Furthermore, Tennakoon highlighted measures taken to prevent criminals from leaving the country amid the ongoing island-wide operation.“We have upgraded the camera systems, and necessary actions are being taken to impede criminals from fleeing the country,” he said.