WhatsApp drug bust: Kahawatta Police arrest peddler guided by overseas supplier

• Police trace suspicious financial transactions to the suspect’s spouse’s account

In a crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Kahawatta Police arrested a 30-year-old individual suspected of peddling drugs on his motorbike with the aid of instructions received via WhatsApp from a key supplier hiding overseas.   

The suspect was detained while in possession of five grams and 425 milligrams of heroin, marking a significant blow to the illegal drug trade in the Ratnapura area. Initial investigations unveiled a disturbing modus operandi, with the suspect allegedly receiving detailed guidance on drug delivery locations through image-based instructions from the supplier abroad.   

Upon completing each transaction, the suspect would photograph the delivered narcotics and transmit the image back to the overseas supplier, confirming successful delivery. This method enabled the supplier to oversee operations remotely, evading detection by law enforcement.   

Further scrutiny revealed a financial trail implicating the suspect’s spouse, with daily deposits of Rs.15,000 credited to her bank account.