A prison officer accused of supplying drugs to the Magazine Prison in Borella has been arrested with a stock of narcotics valued at more than Rs. 2 million, police said.
The suspect was arrested by officers attached to the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau, who recovered 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’) and 20 grams of heroin in the operation.
According to police, the investigation was launched after a 32-year-old man from Dehiwala was arrested in Mount Lavinia with narcotics.
During questioning, he allegedly told investigators that he had obtained the package after receiving a location via a WhatsApp call from an inmate currently serving a sentence at the Magazine Prison.
The narcotics were reportedly intended to be handed over to another individual at the Wanatha Road, Borella.
Acting on the information, a team led by Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau OIC Chief Inspector Nilantha Gamage launched a covert operation and positioned officers at the location.
Police said the prison officer, wearing prison sports attire, arrived at the scene and took the drug package from the first suspect, at which point officers moved in and arrested him.
The arrested officer is a 53-year-old resident of Beliatta, Tangalle. Prison sources said he had joined the Magazine Prison in January and had previously served at the Welikada Prison.
The Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau is conducting further investigations into the alleged drug supply network.
