One of the industrial grinding machines filled with heroin (above) and the suspect arrested with the equipment (below) at the Orugodawatta container yard.
EXCLUSIVE: 100kg of heroin found inside grinding machines in Orugodawatta
July 21, 2014 05:19 pm
Three industrial grinding machines packed with heroin were seized at the Orugodawatta container yard by customs officers a short while ago, in what is believed to be the largest haul detected in the country, sources said.
The industrial grinding machines had arrived in the country from Karachi, Pakistan.
A suspect has been arrested with the machinery and is currently in the custody of Sri Lanka Customs. The two Clearance Officers responsible for clearing the equipment are also in custody, sources said.
However, they are yet to be question because they are fasting and they will be questioned as soon as they break-fast, sources said.
The total weight and value of the heroin haul is yet to be estimated while customs officials are currently dismantling the machines.
UPDATE: Customs says that the heroin haul is approximately 100 kilograms with a value of Rs 700 million.
Customs spokesman Leslie Gamini stated that the two Clearance Officers arrested with the heroin haul are not Sri Lanka Customs officers.
