A chef has been arrested in connection with the theft of 30 foreign pigeons from the Dehiwala National Zoo, the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Unit said.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Ashoka Gunasekara, officers acted on information received from a private informant. A team led by Chief Inspector Nilanth Gamaga, the OIC of the Divisional Crime Investigation Unit, apprehended the suspect.

Police said 15 of the stolen birds were found in the suspect’s possession at the time of arrest.

The suspect, a 24-year-old resident of Jayathilaka Mawatha, Nedimala, Dehiwala, is employed as a chef.

He is expected to be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.