Officers of the Organized Crime Investigation Unit of the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) have arrested a gang of five individuals who were allegedly on their way to murder a prominent businessman residing in the Minuwangoda area.
Accordingly, Police have recovered 02 foreign manufactured hand grenades and 02 sharp weapons found in the possession of the suspects.
The suspects were traveling in a car and on two motorcycles during the interception.
During the interrogation of the arrested persons, they had confessed that they were on their way to execute a ‘hit’ on a prominent businessman in the Minuwangoda area, on the instructions of the underworld figure known as “Heenatiyana Mahesh”.
It is reported that the criminal identified as “Heenatiyana Mahesh” is engaged in an extortion racket targeting businessmen, and that he had demanded ransom from the businessman in question on several previous occasions.
Further, it is reported that “Heenatiyana Mahesh” had also threatened another businessman over the phone, alleging that he had complained to the police about the ransom demand.
The arrested suspects have been detained further to court order and were presented to the Minuwangoda Magistrate’s Court.
Further investigations are underway by the CCD.
