Vehicle seized with drugs

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Wellawatta police took a vehicle into custody with an expired permit for transporting drugs. The National Drugs Control Authority issue special permits to vehicles to transport drugs and vehicles are required to obtain new permits annually after meeting the requirements, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said the authority fined the vehicle owner Rs.40,000 and took into custody drugs worth Rs.200,000 which was in the vehicle. The authority issues permits to vehicles after examining if such vehicles have required standards and conditions to transport drugs. The vehicles need to renew the permits annually. The authority renews permits after re-examining the vehicles.