Four police officers attached to the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit have been arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs. 500,000 bribe from a suspect in exchange for not taking legal action over a cannabis cultivation.
The officers were allegedly involved in an earlier raid on a cannabis cultivation in the Nikawewa-Demodara Wewa area of Thanamalwila on August 10.
The arrested officers include two Police Sergeants, aged 37 and 45, a 39-year-old Police Constable serving as a driver, and another 36-year-old Police Constable.
The incident came to light after the Officer-in-Charge of the Thanamalwila Police received information about a cannabis cultivation in the area. A police team subsequently raided the location on August 11 and arrested a suspect along with several cannabis plants.
During a further search of the surrounding area, police discovered three more cannabis plots allegedly linked to the suspect. Another plot had reportedly already been cut down and burned.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly told police that six officers from the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit had raided the same location the previous day.
According to the suspect's statement, the officers had allegedly accepted Rs. 500,000 in exchange for refraining from taking legal action. He further alleged that the officers destroyed only one of five cannabis plots by setting it on fire and removed the cannabis plants from the remaining plots.
During the investigation, another local resident known as "Kalu" was also arrested after being found in possession of cannabis. He reportedly told investigators that members of the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit had instructed him to process and dry harvested cannabis.
Following detention orders obtained from the Wellawaya Magistrate's Court to facilitate further questioning, Thanamalwila Police arrested the four officers allegedly connected to the incident.
The suspects are due to be produced before the Wellawaya Magistrate's Court.
The arrests come amid continued efforts by law enforcement authorities to address allegations of corruption and abuse of power within the police service. Cases involving officers allegedly accepting bribes or interfering with narcotics investigations have raised concerns over public trust and the integrity of law enforcement operations.
