Colombo Port drug bust: The plot thickens
Friday 2nd October, 2026 An inquiry conducted by the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) into some allegations concerning the circumstances that surrounded the 31 August drug detection at the Colombo Port has revealed that there may have been dereliction of duty on the part of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Ranmal Kodituwakku and […]
On 2nd October 2026, the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has launched an inquiry into allegations surrounding the circumstances of the drug detection at Colombo Port on 31st August. According to sources, there may have been negligence on the part of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Ranmal Kodituwakku and several other officers.
The inquiry was prompted by intelligence received from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that led to the detection of a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine, weighing about 471 kg, in a shipping container destined for Cameroon. The container was found at the Colombo Port, and the information leading to the detection was conveyed to SDIG Kodituwakku, who oversaw the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB).
The officers involved obtained a search warrant from a Magistrate, assisted by personnel from the Police Narcotics Bureau and Sri Lanka Customs. The SIU has discovered that both SDIG Kodituwakku and the Police Narcotics Bureau received the information about the drug consignment on 14th August, but no immediate action was taken. Sub Inspector of the CCIB received the same information on 22nd August, which led to the opening of the container on 31st August in the presence of Customs officers.
The SIU investigators found that officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau were also present, yet the initial detection of the drug consignment was primarily carried out by officers of the CCIB. The SIU has recommended both an internal inquiry and a criminal investigation, while cautioning against rushing to conclusions regarding any possible strategic delay in the opening of the container.
Previous instances of delayed drug investigations have taken place globally, with some countries opting for controlled deliveries before immediate seizure. The SIU's probe aims to determine if delaying the opening of the container was a deliberate strategy to apprehend all involved in the illegal operation.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
