Police arrested two men on Saturday evening who were allegedly attempting to deliver drugs and other contraband to inmates of the Magazine Prison in Borella by throwing parcels over the perimeter wall, Ada Derana reported.
The arrests were made during an operation near the side wall of the prison on Baseline Road. Police said the two men were detained as they tried to throw two parcels into the grounds.
What was seized
An inspection of the parcels recovered about 22.25 grams of the drug known as “Ice”, or crystal methamphetamine, along with hashish, 250 grams of tobacco leaves, two mobile phone chargers, two pairs of earrings, ten lighters and two small mobile phones.
Both suspects are 29 years old and residents of Colombo 14, according to police. They are due to be produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on Sunday. Borella Police are conducting further investigations.
Context
The arrests come days after unrest at the same facility on August 6, in which one inmate died and 11 people were injured after prisoners held in ‘E’ Ward forced their way out. Prison authorities attributed that disturbance to a dispute among inmates connected to illicit drugs.
Magazine Prison has remained under scrutiny since. The United National Party last week asked prison authorities to guarantee the safety of former minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who is held there.
The incident also underlines the smuggling problem behind much of the recent disorder in the prison system. Sri Lanka’s prisons have seen repeated unrest since early July, and the government has moved to tighten security across all 33 facilities, with the President ordering a joint Police, Special Task Force and tri-forces mechanism to secure them.
Sources: Ada Derana.
