Illicit drugs seized from Colombo shop

Irangika Range

The illicit drugs seized by the police personnel. Picture by Roshan Pitipana

A special team from the Colombo Fort Police raided a shop in Colombo 13 yesterday, and seized a stock of illicit drugs including cannabis and several other stimulant drugs mixed with illicit chemical substances imported to the country.

One hundred packets of extral plus (pamparata), 96 packets of hans (a brand of scented chewing tobacco), 525 tins of svs dust ( stimulants placed under the tongue) and 2,500 packets of nizam betel mixed with cannabis were taken into Police custody following a tip-off given to Fort Police personnel.

Fort Police OIC CI Chamil Ratnayake said a person in the shop was arrested on charges of selling illicit drugs while further investigations are being conducted to arrest the shop owner on the statement given by the suspect.

"We believe these illicit drugs were brought to the country to supply them to schoolchildren and nattamis at the Pettah market," OIC Ratnayake said.

The Police team was headed by Fort Police OIC CI Chamil Ratnayake, SI Narampanawa and other police personnel.