The police have seized a trove of luxurious motor vehicles from drug dealers who were arrested during its strategic initiative Yukthiya Meheyuma (Operation Justice) to combat the drug menace and eradicate the underworld, the police told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
Among the motor vehicles seized during countrywide operations from December 17 were high-end vehicles, such as two Toyota KDH high-roof vans, a Honda Vezel car, a Japanese Alto, a Toyota Axio, a Honda Grace, two Prius cars and two Mitsubishi Fuso buses.
They were seized from drug dealers following the islandwide Yukthiya crackdowns conducted by the police and the Special Task Force.
Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles said they will continue the operations to suppress the criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and underworld operations in the country.
He said that the operation is fully endorsed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The total value of the impounded luxurious cars, vans, and buses alone is estimated at Rs. 75 million, according to official police reports. The police seized three scooters worth Rs. 1.5 million, a Leyland bus, two tipper lorries, and a lorry worth around Rs 12 million from the drug dealers.
Police said that in a comprehensive crackdown on December 22, police seized a 45-feet multi-day fishing vessel worth Rs. 8 million, A KDH van valued at Rs. 10 million, a Toyota CHR jeep worth Rs. 12 million, and a Wagon R car worth Rs. 4.7 million.
The Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Unit of the police confiscated motor vehicles and properties, including spa centres, lands, villas, hotels, cash and gold of the suspects involved in drug trafficking in Sri Lanka operating from abroad.
The Unit has uncovered that those in question amassed them through illicit drug-related activities. The vehicles and the properties have become the target of the ongoing police operation aimed at curbing illegal assets acquired by drug criminals carrying out their operations from overseas, police said.
The Unit also confiscated vehicles and properties to the value of Rs. 134 million which had been illegally acquired by organised drug criminals.
The police arrested 10,456 suspects during the Yukthiya operations. Over 500 suspects are being questioned based on detention orders. Police said that over 100 suspects are currently under investigation for illegal assets and that they will refer 886 drug addicts arrested during their crackdowns for rehabilitation.
Police seized 7.7 kg of heroin, 3.9 kg of Ice, 227.1 kg of Cannabis, 546,040 cannabis plants, 105 kg of Mawa, 35.2 kg of Ash, 551 grams of Hashish, 3kg of Thule, 520grams of Kush and 44,267 pills following the ongoing operations.
