By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) conducting investigations following the detection of over 431 kg of heroin and ICE (crystal methamphetamine) off the Southern coast last month believes that both shipments were arranged by a Dubai-based gang. The value of the consignments of narcotics is believed to be Rs. 9.5 bn.

“The Navy executed an operation that led to the recovery of two consignments of narcotics that had been transferred from an Iranian vessel to local fishing trawlers,” a senior investigator told The Island.

According to him, the interrogation of suspects clearly indicated the direct involvement of a Dubai-based person in arranging quite a significant transfer of narcotics through the Iranian link.

The official said that the first detection had been made 292 nautical miles south of Dondra on the night of Oct 19 and the second detection 91 nautical miles west of Galle on the evening of the following day. The Navy carried out the first operation on the basis of intelligence that had been received from the State Intelligence Service (SIS) whereas the PNB provided information that led to the second detection, the official said.The official said that the narcotics detected on Oct 19 and 20th were handed over to the PNB on Oct 24 and Oct 22, respectively.

Navy headquarters said that SLNS Vijayabahu (formerly USCGC Douglas Munro) carried out the operation off Dondra whereas SLCG Samudraraksha (one of the 30 meter long brand new Fast Patrol Vessels donated by Japan in July 2018) was deployed for the operation west of Galle. In 2005, Sri Lanka took delivery of three large Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) from the US. SLNS Vijayabahu commissioned in Nov 2022 is the latest addition.

Of the six persons taken into custody west of Galle, one had escaped before the SLCG handed over the suspects to the PNB along with over 212 kgs of heroin and ICE, an authoritative official said, adding that law enforcement authorities were able to arrest the escapee. The police have apprehended him on Nov 01 while hiding at Weerapana, Opatha. At the time, the police swooped down on the fugitive, his wife and a Buddhist monk were with him.

“In addition to the six persons now under investigation, we took four more persons into custody,” the official said, adding that five others were arrested from the fishing trawler intercepted off Dondra.

The investigator identified the persons in custody as residents of Kudawella, Tissamaharama, Kottegoda, Mamadala and Dondra aged between 26 and 53.

The Island also raised with authoritative officials the status of the current investigation and preparations to face top class legal challenge against the backdrop of the acquittal and discharge of five persons indicted at the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar for the possession of nearly 197kgs of heroin several months ago. Since then the AG has moved the Supreme Court against the decision of the Trial-at-Bar.

They explained the remedial measures taken by the Attorney General’s Department and the PNB to educate the Navy regarding the procedures and other related matters following the Trial-at-Bar ruling on April 06, 2023 that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. The Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar Bench comprising HC judges Adithya Patabendige, Manjula Thilakaratne and Mahesh Weeraman held that there were serious contradictions in the evidence led by the prosecution.

The trawler carrying heroin manned by five member crew was intercepted by SLNS Sagara in international waters in April 2019.A senior SLN official told The Island that the consequences of the acquittal and discharge of persons taken into custody by the crew of SLNS Sagara received their attention. The SLN and the police said that they were keen to ensure the cases proceeded without an issue.