Three-wheeler driver, drug-distributing bank officer, and a trafficker caught in the net

An individual who worked as an accounts audit officer at a private bank in Colombo and another drug trafficker have been arrested by the Homagama Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit on charges of stealing trishaws and transporting drugs. Based on confidential information received by police officers, during an operation carried out on April 20th in the Katuwana area of Homagama, security forces were able to first apprehend this bank officer with 20 grams and 830 milligrams of heroin and five stolen trishaws.

This suspect, who received his education from a well-known school in Colombo, is a resident of Rukmalgama, Kottawa. Preliminary investigations have revealed that he became severely addicted to 'Ice' (crystal methamphetamine) due to a relationship he formed with a close associate of the notorious organized criminal known as 'Handapangoda Handaya'. He joined this network of thefts and drug transportation with the aim of finding money to satisfy his drug needs. Furthermore, the police have revealed that there are about twenty-eight cases pending against him in various courts.

As a tactic to divert the attention of security forces, he carried out this trafficking using stolen trishaws. It has been confirmed that these trishaws were stolen from Maradana Technical Junction, near a supermarket in Navinna, near the Panagoda Army Camp, and Athurugiriya. Based on information obtained from this bank officer, during further operations, the other suspect, a 24-year-old resident of Pitipana, Homagama, was arrested in Pitipana itself with 51 grams and 300 milligrams of heroin.

These raids were conducted under the leadership of Police Inspector Amila Govinna, the OIC of the Homagama Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit. The police have already launched a comprehensive investigation into whether the second young man arrested has any direct connection to murders or illegal firearms trafficking. Both suspects have been placed under detention orders under the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance for further questioning, after which they are scheduled to be produced before the Magistrate's Courts of Homagama, Gangodawila, Kaduwela, and Aluthkade.