Rs. 1.1 b worth of heroin nabbed, 3 arrested

Three persons were arrested by the Excise Department’s Narcotics Unit yesterday for possession of 110 kg of heroin valued at Rs. 1.1 billion, Excise Department Media Spokesman and Deputy Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe said. 

The Narcotics Unit was able to detect 10 kg of heroin being trafficked by two suspects in a luxury vehicle at Wellawatte. Upon further interrogation, the suspects had revealed information about more heroin stored in a house in the Piliyandala area.

The Excise Department officials had then arrested another suspect in the house concerned and recovered more heroin stashes hidden there.

“During further inspections, Excise Department officials were able to find the rest of the brown sugar type heroin in 1kg packages disguised as biscuit packets and motor spare parts packages,” Kumarasinghe said. 

Kumarasinghe said the suspects were in custody and Excise Department had commenced further investigations. The suspects will be produced before court, he added.