The three suspects arrested in connection with the 80 kilograms of cocaine found inside a container have been ordered to be detained by the Police Narcotics Bureau for another 7 days after being produced at the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today.
The cocaine, with an estimated street value of Rs 1.2 billion, were found in three bags inside a container of sugar which had arrived from Brazil at the Orugodawatta container yard.
Colombo North SSP, Ajith Rohana, speaking at a special press conference today, said that one of the suspects is a director of the local sugar company which was responsible for importing the stock of cocaine while the other two are the manager and a Wharf Clerk of the company which had attempted to clear the cocaine through customs.
He stated that the ship ‘MSC Luciana’ had reached Colombo on June 05 with the container of sugar onboard while the tip-off regarding the drugs was received by an STF sub-inspector serving in the Finance Ministry’s special unit to raid narcotics on June 12 and surveillance carried out the following day.
The successful arrests of 3 suspects along with the 80 kilograms of cocaine were made yesterday (14).
