Two suspects including a soldier were taken into custody with 45.3 kilos of heroin from the Horana area by the Panadura Anti-Narcotics unit yesterday.
The raid was carried out on a tip-off by the officials attached to the Panadura Anti-Narcotics unit yesterday.
The consignment of heroin was found in a van carrying an Army number plate and the suspect who drove it was also wearing an Army uniform and identified as a soldier, Police Media Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said. It was reported that the van had entered the Expressway from the Imaduwa area on the Southern Expressway and exited off the Expressway from the Gelanigama area.
The suspects along with the seized consignment of heroin were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for investigations, he added.
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said that an investigation has been launched to take stern action against the arrested soldier under military law.
Another suspect in the van was also arrested and it was revealed that he was an army deserter. The Panadura Anti-Narcotics Division and the Police Narcotics Bureau are conducting further investigations. In addition to the investigation being carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau, action will be taken against the soldier under military law. DIG Ajith Rohana further stated that this is the fourth large scale stock of narcotics seized within a period of about 2 months.
