CID arrests 11 more PNB men

Some of the Police Narcotics Bureau officers leaving the court after being given detention orders. Picture by Dushmantha Mayadunne.

Another 11 police officers attached to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday. Currently, 15 police officers and two civilians have been arrested over their links with drug racketeers. Speaking to the Daily News,

DIG Ajith Rohana said that among the police personnel arrested are an Inspector, Two Sub-Inspectors, five Sergeants, and seven Constables. In addition two civilians are also among those arrested.They are all currently being questioned.

The four police officers were apprehended earlier as a result of the investigations launched by the CID on June 19. Two other individuals connected to the racket externally were also arrested on the June 25 and 26 and they are being interrogated under detention orders, DIG Ajith Rohana said.

Meanwhile, acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D.Wickramaratne requested the National Police Commission to transfer current PNB DIG Sanjeewa Medawatte to the Police Welfare Division.

He had also recommended Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) K. Aponso to be appointed in charge of the PNB and DIG Rohana said that the IG is awaiting approval of the Police Commission.

Three bank accounts connected to the suspects have been frozen temporarily, he said, adding that despite the PNB being a part of the Police Department, no leniency will be shown and every possible action will be taken against any corrupt officers under the country’s law. “We won’t stop here but all those who aided or abetted in this incident will also be arrested,” DIG Rohana said.


Detained till July 8

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathne yesterday permitted the Criminal Investigations Department to detain and interrogate the twelve officers who were arrested for alleged drug trade, until July 8.

When the matter was taken up before court, Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiries appearing on behalf of the CID informed the Magistrate that the suspects were arrested based on information given by Chandana Priyankara arrested with 5 grams of heroin on June 12 in the Minuwangoda area. DSG Dileepa Peiris that investigations have revealed that these arrested PNB officers were indirectly connected to this drug racket.

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