The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has recovered a large consignment of heroin from Koswatte area in Dankotuwa.

Seven individuals were also taken into custody along with the heroin haul which weighed around 15kg, according to the Police.

The PNB had initially arrested a 37-year-old from the area of Kebellawitigama in Dankotuwa at around 10.15am on Friday (02), with 360g of heroin in his possession.

The information revealed by the suspect led to the arrest of three youths, aged 23, 24 and 27 years, for drug racketeering and abetting racketeering in the areas of Karamwatta and Sigiri Janapadaya in Dankotuwa and Sri Saranapala Mawatha in Kobeigane.

PNB officers also seized a car belonging to the 23-year-old.

Interrogations into these suspects led to the arrest of two more suspects who had been in possession of 2.2kg of heroin. They were apprehended in the Botalegama Junction in Dankotuwa on Friday night while riding a motorcycle.

Both suspects, aged 30 and 35 years, are residents of Lunuwila area.

The so-called leader of the drug network was then arrested based on the information divulged by the two arrestees.

He was taken into custody at around 7.55 pm on Friday while at a house in Boralugodella in Kirimetiyana East, Lunuwila.

A search at the house of the suspect led to the recovery of 13.45kg of heroin.

After being produced before the Marawila Magistrate’s Court today (03), the suspects were ordered to be detained for a week for questioning.