A Pakistani national, who is suspected to be a key member of a drug smuggling racket, has been arrested with almost 5 kilograms of heroin worth around Rs 60 million while attempting to enter the country at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.
The suspect was arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau after he arrived from Qatar on board a Qatar Airways flight this morning (25) while the drugs were found concealed inside secret compartments of two boxes in his possession.
The arrested suspect, Roydad Khan, is believed to be a key figure of an international drug racket operating out of Rawalpindi in Pakistan which had been smuggling heroin to Sri Lanka via Qatar.
Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau, SSP Kamal Silva, stated that the arrest was the result of an extensive investigations carried out with regard to the suspect after it had been uncovered that he was the supplier to 2 Maldivians arrested in March with 1.5kg of heroin.
The latest drug bust brings the total heroin seized by the Police Narcotics Bureau within the past three days to 7kg and 50g. PNB officers had arrested suspects with 2kg and 50g of heroin during separate operations in Grandpass and Havelock Road in the past 2 days.
