Drug carrier eagle used by Angoda Lokka found

• Two arrested youth handed over to Athurugiriya police
• Incident of narcotic carrier bird reported in Sri Lanka for first time

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Buddhika Kumarasiri   

Two individuals were arrested during a raid in Meegoda along with an eagle suspected to have been used for drug trafficking operations by underworld figure ‘Angoda Lokka’. 

Police said the Western Province Intelligence Unit officers arrested the suspects including an owner of a farm.   
They also recovered an air rifle,10 rounds of ammunition. 

 
Investigations revealed that the eagle was brought from overseas in a boat. 

 
Police said this bird was not identified as endemic to Sri Lanka and it was illegal to rear these birds in cages.The birds are usually used as narcotic carriers internationally, however, this is the first time that such an incident was reported in Sri Lanka.   The arrested individuals aged 19 and 20 were handed over to the Athurugiriya Police.