PNB sleuths arrest drug money manager with Rs 13.9 million kept buried

Money belongs to another Dubai based drug lord

By Norman Palihawadane

The Police Narcotics Bureau had detected Rs. 13.9 million in cash buried in the garden of a house at Hiripitya in Kottawa and taken a suspect into custody, police headquarters sources said yesterday.

Police said that the money belonged to Charith Sandakelum alias ‘Ran Malli’ one of the leading drug traffickers operating from Dubai.

Police said that the suspect in custody was the brother-in-law of Ran Malli and he had rented the house in Kottawa and had been managing the drug money from there.

According to information received about him, during the search of the house, the money was found.

Ran Malli was hiding in Dubai with Nandun Chinthaka alias “Harak Kata”, another drug kingpin, and they operated together smuggling large quantities of narcotics into Sri Lanka by sea.

The money and the suspect have been handed over to the PNB headquarters for further investigations.