A cache of approximately 54 kilograms of heroin, valued at over 10 billion rupees, was uncovered by the Police Special Task Force (STF) yesterday. The drugs were buried on a property located in the Kiriibbanara area near the Kirivava Lake.
The STF’s discovery stemmed from an investigation into a narcotics network connected to a key associate of the notorious drug trafficker “Harak Kata.” Acting on this information, an STF team was dispatched to Kiriibbanara, where the heroin was found buried on the premises.
Following the directive of Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Varuna Jayasundara, the operation was conducted under the guidance of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sagara Kulasekara, head of intelligence, special operations, narcotics, and organized crime suppression. A team from the STF’s Special Operations Division III, led by Chief Inspector R.A.D.A. Ranasinghe, conducted the raid at a property in Nugagalaya, Sevana Gala.
This major drug stash was discovered based on a tip-off from the military intelligence services. During interrogation of suspects arrested the previous day in Boralesgamuwa, with heroin and ice (crystal meth) in their possession, further information emerged, leading STF officers to the property in Kiriibbanara.
Upon examination of the property, STF officers found three plastic barrels meticulously concealed in the ground, containing 53.065 kilograms of heroin. The STF apprehended a married couple residing at the property for further investigation.
It was also revealed that the wife is the sister of a suspect, Dhammika Samankumara, who was arrested the previous day in Boralesgamuwa with quantities of heroin and ice.
