Intl drug mafia strikes again

* Mastermind, a Pakistani

* Two Tamils apprehended with heroin worth Rs.680 million

Almost a year after the largest- ever heroin haul of 261 kilograms was seized in August 2013 and a series of subsequent high scale detections being made, it has have triggered much controversy and has paved the way for doubts arising as to whether the country has become a narcotic hub in the region. Once again these doubts have arisen following Wednesday's detection of 85.5 kg by the Police Special Task Force.

Although two locally residing Tamils were apprehended with Rs.680 million worth of contraband in a carefully planned heist, the authorities have found that the mastermind was a Pakistani national operating from Karachi with at least one other missing person in the link to be arrested.

Well-organised network

Since the early 1980's, heroin has entered the country through various means mostly via airports and brought in by visiting individuals. These drugs have been distributed throughout the country in a well-organised network and reached addicts at grassroot level. The first- ever major detection of 23 kilograms of heroin was made by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) in 2001 from a luxury house in Ward Place belonging to drug kingpin Mohamed Shiyam. Even then the seized narcotics were found to be smuggled into the country to be distributed for local consumption, where the number of heroin addicts were excessively high compared to today.

Hub

Acting STF Commandant SSP Ranjith Perera

A senior officer attached to the PNB who was part of that raid told the Sunday Observer, that there was sufficient, credible evidence that Sri Lanka was fast becoming a hub for the lethal drug. Compared to ten years ago, the number of heroin addicts had significantly reduced with hardly any new addicts reported in recent times. The consumption of heroin has also comparatively reduced at present with a lesser number of addicts.

If this is the prevailing situation, then how come container loads of heroin are arriving in the country, the officer queried. An African national attempted to smuggle 30 kilograms of the drug out of the country, a large stock of heroin came hidden in container loads of oranges at the airport and another large contraband arrived in plastic potatoes at the harbour. Successful investigations into most of these cases has been undoubtedly found that these large amounts of the narcotic was never meant for the local consumption but to be sent to other destinations, where Sri Lanka has been used as a transshipment hub in the process of smuggling the contraband.

The stock of heroin seized in Kelaniya by the STF is considered to be the second largest haul. The contraband that weighed 85.5kilograms was neatly packed in 25 parcels each weighing three kilograms, ten parcels each weighing one kilogram and another packet weighing 500 grams. Most importantly the contraband was found to be of the best quality, where a single portion could be mixed into ten regular quality portions that is sold in the black market and diluted with added stuff.

Surveillance

Acting STF Commandant SSP Ranjith Perera told the Sunday Observer that the detection was made as a result of a surveillance operation that had been carried out for over three months. The elite Intelligence Wing stationed at the STF Headquarters in Bauddhaloka Mawatha took steps on special information received three months ago about an ongoing drug smuggling operation in the country. Since then a specially selected team of STF Intelligence officials were deployed to monitor the movement of a suspicious group. The officers begun to 'recce' on initial information but it was not an easy task.

On several occasions, investigations were interrupted due to various reasons including the uncooperative attitude of certain law enforcement and state sector institutes. Yet, officials revealed valuable information pertaining to the illicit operation. Within weeks they understood that this contraband had been smuggled into the country through a sea route and was being transported from one location to another as a safety measure . Having received information that the contraband will be moved once again, the STF commenced operations in the Kelaniya area that Wednesday morning.

A batch of 40 STF cadres some in plain clothes were deployed in the area between Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara and Bandarawatta Junction along the Biyagama Road from 10.30 in the morning watching for any suspicious movement. Towards the latter part of the day, the team received an update from its informant that the two suspects were travelling in a trishaw towards the Kelaniya area. The officers noticed that a trishaw bearing registration number 201 – 9637 was parked at the Food City car park on the Biyagama Road next to a Honda Hybrid car which had already been parked there for sometime. One of the two men who came in the trishaw then entered the car bearing registration number WP KS – 0358 and had started to proceed towards Kelaniya.

Police roadblock

After a few moments the car had returned to the same car park and shortly after, both vehicles left the scene. The STF cadres who pursued the two vehicles that were heading towards the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, ordered an approaching police road block to prevent the movement of the vehicles.

The Honda Hybrid with the trishaw trailing behind was ordered to stop at the police roadblock adjoining the bridge near the temple. The pursuing officers as well as the others who were waiting for their arrival immediately took both vehicles into custody along with the drivers. When the vehicle was searched the STF found a large consignment of narcotics inside the car.

Initial interrogation revealed that the two men were siblings namely Selvadurai Sundara Raja of Ratna Road in Kotahena and Selvadurai Ravi Kumar of Mohideen Masjid Road in Maradana. The trishaw had been driven by the younger brother Ravi Kumar and the older brother Sundara Raja drove the car carrying the narcotics. The seized drugs were weighed and found to weigh 85 kilograms and another 340 milligrams of pure heroin with a brownish colour was found.

Although the suspects did not reveal much about the operation, the STF learnt that there is a third person linked to the case who had ordered them to shift the contraband from one place to another. The suspects who were believed to have come from Kaduwela area were suspected to transport the narcotics to a secret location in Colombo.

The investigators believe that the suspects had been used as a carrier to transport drugs by a third party who is yet to be identified. It is revealed that the empty car was parked and kept ready by this third party for the suspects who arrived in a trishaw. Then the car had was driven to another location, leaving the trishaw behind, allegedly to collect the contraband and return to the same parking lot. It is found that the car had been hired from a car renting service. The STF following preliminary inquiries handed over the haul of heroin along with the suspects and the vehicles used for the crime to PNB for further investigations on Thursday evening.

Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told the Sunday Observer, a special team appointed by the PNB is investigating at present to find out who a third accomplice was who had handed over the drugs to the two brothers, where the latter had attempted to transport it. It is revealed that a man identified as Siddique Tuan operating from Pakistan was the foreign dealer of this contraband. Detectives also entertain doubts as to whether there was any involvement of the LTTE international diaspora in this case, as many consignments of heroin were smuggled into the country through sea routes during the conflict period, the SSP said.

Nine Sri Lankan nationals have been identified as enlisted with Red Notice issued by Interpol for drug and narcotics related offences and were absconding. The two suspects were produced before the Mahara Additional Magistrate Prabath Ranasinghe who ordered the PNB to detain them until June 18 for further interrogation.

Investigations

STF Acting Commandant SSP Perera said investigations carried out by its Intelligence Wing will continue though the case was handed over to the PNB. He said that the elite force is prepared to extend its assistance and support to other units to fight the drug menace in the country. The detection which is considered to be the second largest detection and the largest detection made out of a port is also considered to be the largest detection carried out by the STF in its history. Out of 256 drug- related cases conducted by the STF since 2011, this consignment of heroin was said to have a high street value. SSP Perera said.