Two injured after police chase heroin boat

by Prasad Poornimal

One person was injured in a Police shooting as a suspected boat believed to be transporting heroin worth Rs. 25 million which defied Police orders came under fire in the sea off Chilaw yesterday, Police said.

A person suspected to be a heroin smuggler injured in the Police shooting was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital along with a Sergeant attached to the Chilaw Police who was also injured in his attempt to prevent the heroin smugglers from throwing the heroin into the sea, Police added.

The Chilaw Division, Police Intelligence Unit made this raid in the sea off Chilaw on a tip off that Rs. 25 million worth heroin was being transported in that trawler.

The suspects, after being surrounded by the Police had thrown heroin into the sea and the boat sped away towards Panadura defying Police orders, Police said.

Police gave chase to the boat and seized it along with three suspects.

HQI (Intelligence) in the Chilaw Police Division IP K. Jayalath conducted the raid under the directive of North Western Province DIG Ashoka Ratnaweera and Chilaw SSP Gamini Amarakoon.

The suspects are to be produced before the Chilaw Magistrate.