A prison officer accused of supplying drugs to the Magazine Prison in Borella has been arrested with drugs worth more than Rs. 2 million, police said.
Officers from the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau recovered 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice,” and 20 grams of heroin during the operation.
The investigation was launched after a 32-year-old man from Dehiwala was arrested with drugs in the Mount Lavinia area.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he had collected the drug package from a location provided through a WhatsApp call by an inmate currently serving a sentence at Magazine Prison.
The drugs were allegedly intended to be handed over to another person in the Wanatha Road area of Borella.
Acting on the information received, a team led by Chief Inspector of Police Nilanta Gamage, Officer-in-Charge of the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau, launched a covert operation at the location.
Police said the prison officer, who arrived wearing prison sportswear, was arrested while receiving the drug package from the first suspect.
The arrested officer is a 53-year-old resident of Beliatta, Tangalle. Prison sources said he had been attached to Magazine Prison in January and had previously served at Welikada Prison.
The Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau is conducting further investigations into the alleged drug network.
