A man alleged to have been involved in drug trafficking for 27 years in the Hemmathagama area was apprehended by local residents of Wadiyatenna, Hemmathagama, through a carefully planned operation. The suspect was later handed over to the Kegalle Police.
The residents reportedly hired an intermediary to pose as a buyer and procure drugs from the suspect. Following this operation, the man was detained by the villagers.
Tensions escalated when officers from the Hemmathagama Police Station arrived at the scene. The residents strongly objected to handing the suspect over to them, citing long-standing frustrations and accusing the local police of failing to take action despite multiple complaints lodged over the years.
The suspect, a 71-year-old resident of the Wadiyatenna area in Hemmathagama, is said to have operated an ongoing drug trafficking network that had severely disrupted the community. Locals claim they had repeatedly informed the Hemmathagama Police about his activities, but allege that no substantial measures were taken.
As the situation intensified, the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Hemmathagama Police Station arrived at the scene in an attempt to de-escalate tensions. However, due to the residents’ refusal to cooperate, the matter was eventually taken over by officers from the Kegalle Police, who managed to arrest the suspect and initiated legal proceedings.
