Caught hiding in luxury apartment with mistress:

Wanted drug kingpin in police net

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The second most wanted drug dealer who had been evading arrest for several years was apprehended on Friday night by a team of policemen led by the OIC, Inspector Duminda Balasuriya of the Walana Vice Squad at Panadura, On the direction of SSP, Walana Vice Squad, Palitha Fernando, the Vice Squad surrounded his house on Friday evening, police sources told the Sunday Observer.

The 32-year-old drug kingpin, the brother of the notorious drug dealer Wele Sudha, who is believed to have fled the country was arrested while hiding in a three-storied luxury apartment at Bodowita Dehiwela with his 20-year-old mistress, whose husband is in prison serving a jail term for a heroin offence.

Police found 500 milligrams of heroin in 20 sachets in his possession. The suspect known as Indika was a major distributor of heroin in the country. “Although Wele Suda was abroad, his youngest brother was heavily involved in the heroin smuggling operation. His two elder brothers and mother are also serving a jail term for drug related offences. His father who was also a drug addict died a few months ago,” the police said.

A few weeks ago, the drug kingpin Wele Sudha’s wife who arrived at the Bandaranike International Airport on a forged passport was arrested by the police and produced in court and remanded. The ill- gotten properties that belonged to her worth over Rs. 200 million, including luxury apartments have been confiscated by the police on a court order, police said.

Indika told the police that he had been hiding earlier in a 30-acre estate at Madampe belonging to his mother. There were several warrants for his arrest, police said.