Five officers attached to the Excise Department’s Narcotics Control Unit have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the investigation into a Rs. 102 million robbery that took place in June at two gold jewellery shops in Hettiweediya, Colombo 11.

According to police, the arrests were made by the CID’s Organised Robbery Investigation Division, which has been probing the incident where, on 5 June, the suspects reportedly conducted a raid at the two jewellery shops under the guise of an official operation. They had seized Rs. 102 million in cash and taken seven individuals into custody.

Subsequent investigations revealed that four of the arrested individuals were found in possession of illegally imported cigarettes, and details of this were presented before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court.

It has also been uncovered during preliminary investigations that Rs. 50 million of the seized money was later returned to the suspects.

The arrested Excise officers, aged between 30 and 46, are residents of Kosgama, Hanwella, Dankotuwa, Millewa, and Madakalapuwa, according to police.

They were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today (30) and were remanded until 11 November for an identification parade.

Further investigations are being conducted by the CID’s Organised Robbery Investigation Division.