36 kg heroin haul; PNB after Pakistani national

by Kurulu Kariyakarawana

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) which took over investigations on the massive 36 kg heroin haul detected by the Customs on Thursday is after a Pakistani national who is believed to have masterminded the smuggling.

The PNB has already identified the suspect who had reportedly come from Karachchi a few weeks ago prior to the arrival of the contraband hidden in two large baggages in a 40-foot container at the Colombo Port two weeks ago. A senior PNB official told the Sunday Observer that the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport have already been informed about the absconding Pakistani national. Customs Spokesman Director Leslie Gamini said that the investigations had been handed over to the PNB on Friday evening after completing the ground work by the Customs.

The Customs Revenue Task Force which made the detection on information received by the National Crime Agency of the UK took in for questioning two shipping line officials and a wharf clerk.

Over 36 kilograms of heroin carefully packed into sausage-like sachets have been found inserted into half-foot long huge bolts. The customs had found 304 such bolts. The street value of the contraband has been estimated at Rs.360 million.

This was the second largest detection made since the recovery of 262 Kg of heroin worth over Rs.2.5 billion last August.