Police Inspector sought for alleged link with narcotic traffickers surrenders

By Asiri Fernando

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) officer, wanted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) over alleged links between errant PNB officers and narcotic traffickers, surrendered to the Kadawatha Police yesterday. 

The 49-year-old suspect, Inspector of Police (IP) Weherawatta Kankanamalage Saman Wasantha Kumara, a resident of Weliweriya, was sought by the Police for over a week after he went in to hiding following a CID led investigation, into a group of rogue officers within the PNB. IP Kumara was arrested by the Police and is to be handed over to the CID for questioning.  

Last week, the Police launched a manhunt for the missing IP, releasing a photograph and details of the wanted policeman, requesting the public to help find him. However, the Police Media Unit in a press release said that the Police had arrested him and did not mention a surrender.  

The scandal has cast a shadow of doubt over the apex Counter-narcotics Enforcement Unit and thrown it into turmoil after revelations of a suspect, which tied some PNB officers to a narcotics trafficking network, with allegations of them being involved in narcotics sales and possible pilfering of arrested drug stocks from evidence lockers. 

Seventeen policemen, including IP Kumara, have now been taken into custody. Sixteen policemen are being held by the CID on detention orders issued by a Magistrate, relating to the investigation. Among them are one IP, two Sub-Inspectors (SI), five Police Sergeants and eight Police Constables. 

Head of the PNB DIG Sanjeewa Medawatta was transferred to another posting following the investigation.