Suspected large-scale drug trafficker Shiran Basik has told investigators he holds a stake in five hotels along Colombo’s Marine Drive, NewsFirst reported, as police said inquiries had uncovered dealings between him and terrorist organisations.
Basik, 48, a resident of Dehiwala, was flown back from Dubai on Friday night and handed to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau, which is holding him under a 72-hour detention order.
Questioning turns to property
Information about Basik’s properties emerged during interrogation, NewsFirst said. The suspect claimed during questioning that he owns five hotels along Marine Drive, the coastal stretch running south from Colombo’s Fort. Investigation teams are continuing to question him about the properties as well as his alleged drug trafficking operations.
Police have moved against property linked to him before. Hiru News reported that a hotel in the Dehiwala area said to belong to Basik was demolished by police on 1 January 2024.
Police allege dealings with terrorist organisations
Police Media Spokesman ASP F. U. Wootler said it had now been revealed that Basik had dealt with terrorist organisations, Hiru News reported, citing remarks he made at a news conference on Saturday. Neither the organisations involved nor the nature of the dealings was identified, and the assertion has not been tested in court.
Wootler also said arrangements were being made to bring back a further 72 people who are hiding abroad and against whom Interpol Red Notices have been issued. That sits alongside the 73 Red Notices the Inspector General of Police said had been issued the same weekend. Neither account states whether the two counts measure the same thing, and police figures on Red Notices have varied through the year.
Hiru described Basik as one of five large-scale traffickers supplying drugs to Sri Lanka. He was arrested by Dubai police on 26 May while in hiding there, after Interpol issued Red Notices against him.
Earlier allegations
Police have separately said they are investigating whether Basik had any involvement in recent clashes in Sri Lankan prisons, and that information has emerged linking him to the 2012 Welikada Prison riot. Both remain allegations, and no charges have been announced on either.
