Police have launched wide-ranging investigations into property held by 25 organised crime figures and drug traffickers who are either hiding abroad or have been brought back to Sri Lanka, NewsFirst reported.
The inquiries are being directed by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division, which is examining holdings acquired with what police allege are the proceeds of crime. Facts on all such properties are to be reported to court, with action to follow, police said.
Named in the inquiry
The investigation covers property linked to suspected large-scale drug trafficker Shiran Basik, who was flown back from Dubai on August 14 and is being held under a 90-day detention order.
Police said prohibition orders have recently been obtained against several properties bought in the name of Basik’s son. That is a step beyond the earlier stage of the inquiry, when investigators were questioning him about a claimed stake in five Marine Drive hotels and had not yet moved against titles held by relatives.
Investigations are also underway into local property belonging to figures known as Kosgoda Suji, Rathgama Vidura, Ratmalane Saima and Kanjipani Imran.
A shift from arrests to assets
The sweep marks a move from repatriating suspects to stripping the holdings behind their networks. Police have brought back a series of wanted figures in recent months, including suspects repatriated from Malaysia, and the Inspector General of Police has said dozens of suspects are subject to Interpol Red Notices and extradition efforts.
Placing property in the names of relatives is a recurring feature of these cases. The Illegal Assets Investigation Division has previously secured freezing orders over holdings registered to spouses, parents and in-laws of suspects rather than the suspects themselves.
No verified newsroom other than NewsFirst had reported the 25-name figure at the time of writing, and police have not published a list of those under investigation.
