Eighteen individuals who had arrived in Nuwara Eliya for a long weekend vacation were arrested on Friday (18) for the possession of various narcotic substances, Nuwara Eliya Headquarters Police Chief Inspector P.S.C. Sanjeewa said.
He said the suspects, aged between 18 and 28, were residents of several areas including Dematagoda, Gampaha, and Colombo. They were found in possession of kush, heroin, “ice,” other narcotics, and illegally imported cigarettes.
Investigations revealed that some of the suspects were part of a group identified via Facebook, who had planned to attend a party in Nuwara Eliya on the same day.
The arrests were made through coordinated police operations and roadblocks, with the assistance of the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Police Dog Unit, covering all entry routes to the city.
The suspects are to be produced before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, officials from the Nuwara Eliya Tourist Hotel Owners Association said that a large number of local tourists had arrived in the city for the long weekend and the Deepavali festive season.
