Rs. 4m worth Ganja haul
by Jayampathy Jayasinghe
Ganja plants (Cannabis sativa) to the value of Rs. 40 lakhs have been
destroyed following raids conducted by the Central Anti Vice Striking
Force (CAVSF) of Walana, Panadura at the Hambegamuwa and Thanamalvila
forest reservation areas last Friday.
Of the five suspects taken into custody, the chief suspect is a
senior member of the Civil Defence Committee of Hambegamuwa. A vast
acreage land planted with superior quality ganja plants were destroyed
in the process, Police sources told the “Sunday Observer.”
A 20-member police team headed by OIC Duminda Balasooriya from the
Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) swooped on the forest
reservation adjoining the 17th colony at Udawalawe Reservation around
2.30 a.m, and destroyed hundreds of plants, some as tall as 6 feet.
A suspect was taken into custody following a large quantity of
leaves, valued at Rs. 120,000 found in his possession. The team had then
swooped on another 15 acre plantation and took into custody a man
possessing 10 kilos. Meanwhile three more chenas in the vicinity were
raided and three more were taken into custody.
Around 2,241 plants have been handed over to the Hambegamuwa police
station along with the five suspects to be produced in court. The raids
were ordered by IGP Jayantha Wickramaratna, through DIG, CAVSF, D. A de
Fonseka to eradicate prohibited drugs in the country.
|