Suspect nabbed while transporting medicinal drugs

By Nelson Piyaratne, Kataragama Gr. Cor.

A suspect was nabbed while distributing medicinal drugs without Health Ministry approval in Bibile. The suspect was produced before the Bibile Magistrate G.B.C.K.Bogahadeniya and was handed a suspended jail term of six months and fined Rs 40, 000.

The suspect was nabbed during a raid when a team of Health officers checked a van transporting the drugs.

In addition, the suspect was ordered to publish a notice in any national newspaper assuring that he would not repeat the offence and was asked to produce the published notice before Courts on August 25.

The suspect was identified as Amarakoon Mudiyanselage Saman Sanjeewa Amarakoon of Marabedda, Bandarawela and the case was filed under the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Act.

According to the Health officers involved in the raid, 129 varieties of drugs were found in the vehicle. The drugs had no date of expiry and were not stored under the recommended temperatures, which was necessary to prevent drugs from deteriorating. The vehicle was later released on a bond.

District Inspector for Food and Drugs D.A.D.P. Pushpakumara said that he had vital information that the suspect had distributed drugs not only in the Moneragala District but in other districts as well.

The raid was carried out by a team of health officers led by D.A.D.P.Pushpakumara under the instructions of Monaragala District Director of Health Services Dr. Suranga Ubeysekara.