Police have launched an investigation into an international drug trafficking network following the seizure of approximately 472 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’), from a container at the Colombo Port.

Police suspect the consignment was sent to Sri Lanka by a drug trafficker known as “Paravi Suda,” who is believed to be currently in Pakistan after fleeing Dubai.

Investigators also suspect that individuals known as “Angoda Priyantha” and “Ruben” may have been involved in the operation.

The drugs were discovered yesterday (31) during a search of a container at a container yard in the Colombo Port. The consignment had reportedly been concealed inside towels.

The investigation was launched after Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ranmal Kodituwakku received information from a private informant based overseas that a container suspected of containing crystal methamphetamine was at the port.

Following the information, police obtained a court order on August 28 to inspect the container. Officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau and Sri Lanka Customs assisted in the subsequent search.

Police said the container had reportedly been scheduled for re-export to Morocco. However, investigators suspect that the actual intention was to smuggle the drugs into Sri Lanka.

Further investigations revealed that the shipment had been imported under the name of a Sri Lankan businessman, police said.

A 44-year-old businessman from Dematagoda, identified as Arumugam Shashidharan, was subsequently arrested.

Police said questioning of the businessman led investigators to two Pakistani nationals allegedly connected to the consignment. Officers from the Central Criminal Investigation Bureau later arrested the two suspects at an apartment complex in Colombo.

According to police, the two Pakistani nationals told investigators that the drug consignment had been arranged to be brought into Sri Lanka through the Dematagoda businessman’s company.

Police are continuing investigations to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the shipment and determine the full extent of the suspected international drug trafficking operation.