Canada confirms arrest, won’t release details
UK’s Canadian informant in custody over heroin charge:
by Shamindra Ferdinando-April 17, 2014, 12:00 pm
Confirming the arrest of a Canadian passport holder of Sri Lankan origin in connection with the ongoing high profile investigation into an abortive bid to smuggle in 36 kilos of heroin to Sri Lanka during the first week of March 2014, the Canadian government said that it was seeking additional information.
Spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Béatrice Fénelon said: "Canadian officials are providing consular services to a Canadian citizen who has been detained in Colombo. Consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information. To protect the privacy of the individual concerned, further details on this case cannot be released."
The official was responding to our query whether Canada had received access to the suspect in the wake of the British claiming that the Canadian passport holder was an informant working closely with them. The Island also sought information as regards Canadian cooperation with Sri Lanka as well as the suspect receiving Canadian passport.
However, a senior official at the External Affairs Ministry told The Island yesterday that Canada hadn’t contacted the relevant desk regarding the arrest, though the British had inquired about the incident.
In an exclusive front-page news item headlined ‘UK intervenes on behalf of Canadian held for heroin smuggling’ The Island in its April 10 edition revealed the existence of a Pakistani link in the smuggling operation.
Following the recovery of a stock of heroin with a street value of Rs.360 million the police arrested the Canadian passport holder on March 19. Also on the same day, the police took into custody a 53-year-old Pakistani.
A New Delhi based British diplomat and a high ranking official attached to the British High Commission recently made representations to Sri Lankan security and intelligence authorities regarding the arrest of a Canadian citizen of Sri Lankan origin.
The British High Commission declined to comment. Soon after the detection was made at the Orugodawatte warehouse, the Customs declared that the operation received the backing of the National Crime Agency in the UK.
Police headquarters spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana told The Island that the Canadian passport holder identified as Mohammed Ali Sabri was among three persons arrested in connection with the investigation. According to SSP Rohana, Sabri had received Canadian citizenship way back in 1996. The police spokesman quoted an unnamed senior investigator as having said: "On the basis of information transpired during the interrogation of suspects, the police are looking for several other suspects. More arrests are likely to take place soon." The police identified the third suspect as Shyam, whose name had transpired in previous investigations into smuggling of heroin into the country.
Defence and External Affairs Ministry officials said that the police would continue with the investigation in accordance with overall plan to cripple heroin smuggling networks. A senior Defence Ministry official said that the British intervention was unprecedented as well as worrying. Responding to a query, another official said that investigators were keen to find out the circumstances under which the Sri Lankan had received Canadian citizenship. The possibility of Canada issuing a passport under a fictitious name, too, couldn’t be ruled out, the official said, recalling one-time Tamil JVP activist Kumar Gunaratnam receiving an Australian passport bearing the name of Noel Mudalige some time back. Gunaratnam alias Mudalige is the incumbent leader of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP).
