The PNB and STF officers had received a tip-off on Thursday evening that drugs were being transported. The STF and PNB officers had, therefore, stopped the suspected container and two other vehicles that were following it. Upon examining the vehicles, the police had arrested seven persons who were travelling in the vehicles including a Pakistani national on suspicion The police officers had found a stock of potatoes in sacks and among the potatoes they had also found artificially made potatoes in which drugs were concealed.. The container was taken to the Kochchikade public grounds and examined and the police recovered 99 kg and 478grams of heroin concealed in these artificial potatoes. The Police Media Unit said that the potatoes were found inside a container imported from Pakistan.

The value of the drugs is said to be over Rs.1 billion.

The PNB also arrested three persons from the company that had imported these potatoes from Pakistan and another person who had come to clear the container. They are from
the Negombo, Yatiyana, Minuwangoda, Wennappuwa and Marawila areas.

The suspects were scheduled to be produced in the Marawila Magistrate’s Court yesterday while the PNB is conducting further investigations