May 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan authorities have intensified efforts to track down wanted suspects overseas, with international red notices now issued against 226 individuals accused of involvement in organised crime and other serious offences.
Colombo Deputy Inspector General of Police Nishantha Soysa said a significant number of those being sought are believed to have fled the country to evade arrest while continuing to maintain links with criminal networks operating both locally and abroad.
According to police, nearly 90 of the suspects identified through the international notices are alleged to be connected to organised criminal groups involved in activities ranging from drug trafficking and extortion to contract killings and illegal arms operations.
DIG Soysa also revealed that police have recovered a large cache of weapons during operations carried out since last year targeting underworld figures and organised gangs. He noted that interrogations of arrested suspects had led to the seizure of 272 automatic firearms, highlighting the scale of illegal weapons circulation connected to criminal syndicates.