The Police have arrested a total of 1,280 suspects over various offences including possession of narcotics and liquor during special police operations carried out in the Western Province within the last 24 hours.

Police said a total of 637 suspects including three close associates of gangster  ‘Badowita Asanka’ were arrested in possession of narcotics during the raids carried out from 6 a.m yesterday to 5 a.m today under the directions of Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Thennakoon.

Accordingly, a total of 519 suspects against whom arrest warrants have been issued and 73 persons wanted over several crimes were also among those arrested.

Police said a total of 283 suspects were arrested with 217.4 grammes of heroin while 124 suspects were arrested with 427 grammes of cannabis.

Associates of ‘Badowita Asanka’ including two women were arrested by the STF at Boralesgamuwa with 63.3 grams of heroin.

Police said 191 suspects were taken into the custody along with 1,333 illicit liquor bottles while 39 barrels of locally made liquor (Goda) and 11 g of Ice drugs were also seized with 25 suspects during the raid.(DSB)