Heroin on wheels

Jayampathy Jayasinghe

A drug trafficking three wheeler driver was arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) sleuths on a tip off on last morning, Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ranjith Gunesekera told the Daily News.

Police Narcotics Bureau Director SSP Eric Perera said they arrested the suspect near a hospital at Grandpass with a quantity of brown sugar variety heroin valued at Rs 640,000. The total quantum of heroin found in his possession was estimated at 117 grams and 250 milligrams.

PNB officers said the suspect from Grandpass area had been engaged in drug peddling for a period of time as it was more lucrative than operating a three wheeler taxi. The suspect is being questioned. Police said heroin smuggling had dwindled drastically this year owing to increased Naval patrols in the Gulf of Mannar.