'Army Disa' Arrested at BIA | Linked to 600kg Drug Haul and Gun Cache

COLOMBO (News 1st): Alleged organized crime gang member Bandula Dissanayake, also known as "Army Disa," was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake this morning after being deported from Abu Dhabi.

Police said the suspect was taken into custody by officers attached to the Police Terrorism Investigation Division and is expected to be questioned under detention orders as part of ongoing investigations.

According to investigators, Dissanayake is alleged to have played a coordinating role in the transportation of narcotics and firearms linked to a major smuggling operation uncovered in international waters south of Sri Lanka.

Police stated that the investigation relates to a vessel intercepted by the Sri Lanka Navy in international waters, during which 10 suspects were also taken into custody.

Authorities revealed that when the vessel was brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour, officers recovered a large cache of contraband, including 600 kilograms of narcotics, eight pistols, magazines for those firearms, two T-56 assault rifles and one M16 rifle.

Police said further investigations are continuing.