Two organised crime suspects wanted by Sri Lankan police — known by the aliases “Bloemendhal Sanka” and “Modara Chathura” — were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday night after being deported from Abu Dhabi, police said.

According to Ada Derana, the pair had fled Sri Lanka and were in hiding in the United Arab Emirates when they were detained by UAE security authorities, who allegedly found photographs and video footage of Iranian drone and missile attacks tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict on their devices. The two were imprisoned in Abu Dhabi before being placed on a deportation flight to Colombo.

Officers of the Criminal Investigation Department detained both men on arrival at BIA on the night of June 13 and began recording statements. “Modara Chathura” — identified by NewsFirst as the brother of alleged drug trafficker and organised-crime figure “Modara Nipuna” — was subsequently handed over to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) in Narahenpita for further investigation, while “Bloemendhal Sanka” remains in CID custody at the airport.

NewsFirst reported that investigations had revealed the CCIB-bound suspect was allegedly involved in drug trafficking activities in the Modara area and surrounding suburbs of Colombo. The “Modara Nipuna” alias is associated with a Dubai-based trafficker whose syndicate has been linked to multiple recent Kerala cannabis cache recoveries by the STF, including the 227kg Aluthgama-Kalutara seizure on June 8 and the 220kg Jaffna-Antonypuram bust the previous day.

The BIA arrests extend a sustained UAE-Sri Lanka deportation pipeline this cycle: the 21 underworld figures returned from Dubai and detained at Mattala on May 22 — including alleged kingpins “Mahawatta Chamara” and “Kudu Duminda” — and the 89 Red Notice suspects police said had been arrested in eight UAE-led deportation operations through May 28 form the bilateral framework under which Saturday’s two-suspect handover took place.

Update — June 14: Sanka transferred to Fraud Investigation Bureau, criminal histories disclosed

In a Sunday evening follow-up, Ada Derana reported that “Bloemendhal Sanka” had been handed over by the CID to the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau for further investigation, while “Modara Chathura” — confirmed as 25 years old — had been formally transferred to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau.

Police disclosed the criminal histories of both men. Chathura is wanted in connection with a 2019 cannabis possession case, a 2020 incident in which he allegedly attacked and injured a person with a club and a sharp weapon, and an outstanding warrant issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 04 in November 2022.

“Bloemendhal Sanka” was previously charged in a 2010 assault case and is a suspect in a 2015 shooting that killed one person, police said. He is also alleged to have assisted in a 2016 shooting at a prison bus in Maligawatte — for which he was arrested with a firearm and ammunition — and to have been involved in a 2018 shooting that killed one person and seriously injured three others.

Update — June 15: 72-hour detention orders confirmed

Sri Lanka Police have formally placed both suspects under 72-hour detention orders to launch intensive investigations, NewsFirst reported on Monday. The two are now held in the custody of the Central Crimes Investigations Bureau and the Colombo–North Crimes Investigations Division.

The broadcaster said the 25-year-old brother of “Modara Nipuna” — a Colombo 15 resident — had been integrated into the airport’s automated facial recognition system since March 2025, enabling officers to detect and verify his identity on arrival.

NewsFirst added further detail to the criminal histories of the pair. The younger suspect is wanted in connection with a 2019 cannabis case under the Pamunugama Police, a 2020 violent assault under the Modara Police Division involving a club and sharp weapon, and an open warrant from the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 04 issued in November 2022. “Bloemendhal Sanka,” now identified as a 40-year-old resident of Colombo 14, has faced charges dating back to a 2010 Ganemulla assault and a Kelaniya heroin arrest, was named the principal suspect in a 2015 Colombo fatal shooting, is accused of aiding and abetting a 2016 attack on a prison bus in Maligawatta — surrendering to the Terrorism Investigation Division through a lawyer with a firearm and ammunition that year — and is linked to a 2018 Grandpass shooting that killed one person and seriously injured three.

Sources: Ada Derana — ‘Bloemendhal Sanka’ and another arrested at BIA after deportation from Abu Dhabi; NewsFirst — Brother of alleged crime figure and drug trafficker ‘Modara Nipuna’ arrested; Ada Derana — Deported drug traffickers handed over to special units for further investigation; NewsFirst — ‘Modara Nipuna’ brother & Bluemandal Sanka held in 72-hour detention.