By Dileep Jayasekara   

Three members of one family were arrested for having in  their possession a stock of 200 grams of heroin valued at more than Rs. 8  million during a raid in Hambegamuwa by the Thanamalvila Police.   

The suspects included a 29-year-old husband and wife and the wife’s 24-year-old brother.   

Police carried out the raid on information received by the  intelligence unit of Thanamalwila Police. During the raid, the police  arrested the young couple first and recovered the stock of heroin. Under  interrogation, the woman told police that her young brother was  carrying on the racket.   

Investigations revealed that the young man was the kingpin behind the racket and that he was facing charges of illegal  activities including theft of cattle and running gambling dens. Police  said the main suspect had received gunshot injuries during a brawl  between two rival parties and recovered recently.   

The suspects were to be produced before Wellawaya Magistrate yesterday and detained for further questioning.   
A police team of the Crime Investigation Branch had  carried out the raid on the instructions of OIC Thanamalwila Police CI D.M.P.Bandara and SSP Buddi Udugamasuriya.