How Dehiwala 'Bawwa', who supplied stolen motorbikes to the underworld, was caught

It is no secret that most organized criminals primarily use motorcycles to transport gunmen for sporadic shootings. While various types of high-powered motorcycles were used for these shootings a few years ago, in recent times, gunmen have mostly utilized 'Scooty' type motorcycles for shootings.

It has been revealed in investigations. According to the facts uncovered during the investigations, such motorcycles have been stolen from various police divisions, and in many investigations related to such motorcycles, identifying the gunmen and riders who arrived on those bikes has posed a great difficulty for the investigating officers. This is because these motorcycles are stolen from various areas to carry out these shootings.

The police, who were attentive to this matter, recently managed to apprehend an individual who stole motorcycles from various parts of the country and supplied them to an organized criminal. The suspect is known as 'Dhawwa', and after questioning him, investigating officers have so far been able to recover 9 motorcycles stolen from different areas.

One day, a person provided some information to Sergeant Dhanushka of the Western South Criminal Division. "Sir... there's someone who steals bikes to give to underworld figures. I'll tell you exactly where he is." Sergeant Dhanushka, trusting the informant, waited eagerly for the next piece of information from him.

"Sir... that guy is near 'Su' in Dehiwala now. He has a parcel in his hand. If you come now, you can catch him."

Acting swiftly on the information received, the sergeant, along with two of his officers, went and arrested the suspect who was loitering near the Dehiwala Zoo. When the officers brought the suspect to the Western South Criminal Division and questioned him extensively, the information received was confirmed to be true.

Accordingly, information regarding 9 motorcycles stolen from the police divisions of Horana, Kottawa, Maharagama, Mirihana, Kalutara South, Kosgama, and Malabe has now been uncovered after questioning the suspect, Bawwa.

It has been revealed in the investigation that the suspect uses motorcycles stolen from various areas for a week or two and then attempts to sell them, and if that attempt fails, he abandons the stolen motorcycles in deserted areas or parking lots.

During questioning, the suspect informed officers that a motorcycle stolen from the Horana area was abandoned in Katubedda due to running out of fuel, and another motorcycle stolen from the Kosgama police division was left in a parking lot near a rubber estate in the Mirihana police division. Investigating officers also stated that a motorcycle stolen from the Malabe area, which had been abandoned, was found by the police and released to its owner.

It has been revealed in investigations that this individual, traveling on stolen motorcycles, entered large-scale electronics stores, posing as a customer intending to purchase machines, and then stole very valuable electronic items from those establishments, selling the stolen machines for a very small amount of money.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed during questioning that two weeks before his arrest, the suspect had made contact by phone with an organized criminal named 'Sando', who is currently abroad, through an acquaintance, and based on this acquaintance, he had stolen three more motorcycles for Sando. Following instructions given by Sando, the suspect stole a brand new Scooty-type motorcycle from the Kottawa police division, left it in the parking lot near Pillawa Temple, informed Sando of the location, and then fled. Later, Sando sent the location of the motorcycle to another person, and the motorcycle was removed from the parking lot. Additionally, it has been revealed in the investigation that another motorcycle was stolen from the Panadura South police division, parked in the Pillawa parking lot, and Sando, who is abroad, was informed of this. Investigating officers state that Sando had credited eighty thousand rupees (forty thousand rupees for each successful operation) to the suspect's account for these successful actions.

Investigating officers stated that a 'Panzer' motorcycle stolen from the Mirihana police division was placed in a parking lot in front of Bellanwila Temple on Sando's instructions, and the suspect was arrested before he could inform Sando that the bike had been placed there. Therefore, they were able to find the motorcycle in a corner of the Bellanwila parking lot.

Investigating officers state that the suspect, following instructions from organized criminals, placed the stolen motorcycles in parking lots of famous temples and then provided the location to the criminals using a location-sharing method. A wide-ranging investigation has now been launched to determine whether these motorcycles, obtained by Sando, a close associate of the organized criminal named Badovita Asanka, were used in the recent shootings in the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia areas. Officers have also managed to find parts of a Scooty-type motorcycle stolen from the Maharagama police division in 2023 at the suspect's residence in Dehiwala, and during questioning, it was revealed that he had dismantled the bike and sold its parts to a scrap metal shop in Piliyandala for 40,000 rupees.

Out of the nine stolen motorcycles, four were abandoned in police divisions, two were given to Sando, and the remaining three motorcycles have been recovered by the police unit. Investigating officers stated that it was revealed during the investigation that the suspect carried out these thefts alone, and due to his arrest, all future theft attempts he was preparing for have now been thwarted.

Meanwhile, officers have also managed to recover a laptop worth one hundred and eighty thousand rupees, stolen from a famous electronics store after the suspect had gone there on a stolen motorcycle, following questioning. This laptop had been stolen from the Talangama area. Officers have also recovered another laptop worth two hundred and twenty thousand rupees from the Horana police division, and a 42-inch smart television worth 40,000 rupees stolen from a well-known shop in the Panadura area. Accordingly, investigating officers state that 9 stolen television sets and 3 laptops have been recovered so far. It is said that information regarding 22 thefts committed by him across 16 police divisions has now been uncovered.

It is said that the suspect is heavily addicted to 'Ice' (crystal methamphetamine) and has therefore engaged in these thefts. He also reportedly has a suspended prison sentence against him from the Nugegoda court due to several property robberies committed in the Boralesgamuwa police division. This individual, residing in Dehiwala, is reported to be 31 years old. The arrested suspect, 'Bawwa', has been handed over to the Maharagama police to be produced before the court. Investigating officers have also found CCTV camera footage showing the suspect stealing motorcycles from various areas, and it is said that upon examining this footage, it has been confirmed that the suspect stole those motorcycles.

(Keerthi Mendis)