Pakistani investigators arrive in Sri Lanka to probe heroin smuggling
Friday, 27 December 2013 02:23
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Three officers of Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force have arrived in Sri Lanka to investigate the heroin smuggling operation that came to light when Sri Lankan Customs officials discovered a container loaded with heroin brought to the island from Pakistan.
The Pakistani investigators have met the senior Sri Lankan police officers who are handling the investigation to discuss how to carry out the investigation.
Sri Lanka’s Customs in August this year made the discovery when a container, declared to be containing lubricants, was inspected at the Custom Clearing Section at Orugodwattta.
Following the discovery of 130 kilograms of heroin hidden in cans of lubricants, the police arrested a Pakistani national and three Sri Lankans for questioning.
The visiting investigators are expected to interrogate the arrested Pakistani national while further discussions are underway to determine whether to transfer another Pakistani who is reportedly facilitated the shipment of the container to Sri Lanka from Pakistan.
The stock of heroin was the largest ever haul in Sri Lanka and reportedly worth over Rs. 1 billion in street value.
Sri Lanka’s National Dangerous Drugs Control Board says the country is a transit point for drugs coming mostly from Pakistan, Afghanistan and India and heading to European countries.
