Police probe cops promoting drug business of “Kudu Avishka” operating from Dubai

Police Headquarters has launched an investigation into allegations that three policemen attached to the Kohuwala Police are receiving money and other benefits from a Dubai-based underworld figure to facilitate drug trafficking in the area.

The probe commenced on Wednesday (Sept. 2), following complaints submitted to the offices of the President, the Minister of Public Security, the Secretaries to the Ministries of Defence and Public Security, and the IGP.

The complaints were accompanied by audio recordings purportedly containing threats allegedly made by the three policemen against individuals who refused to cooperate with the drug network, as well as recordings of alleged conversations between the policemen and underworld figures based in Dubai.

The complaints allege that the three policemen have been operating in collusion with ‘Bodiya Watta Avishka’ or ‘Kudu Avishka’, who is alleged to be a large-scale drug trafficker currently based in Dubai.

Furthermore, information has emerged alleging that one of the three policemen is maintaining an extramarital relationship with a woman known as ‘Bodiyawatta Chamodi,’ who is said to be a close associate of Kudu Avishka. Chamodi is reportedly living in Dubai and, acting on Avishka’s instructions, allegedly travels to Sri Lanka once every two to three months to meet the police officer concerned.

According to the complaints, the three officers have allegedly not taken any action against individuals involved in Avishka’s drug network, while pressuring people in the Kohuwala area to join the operation.

Those who refuse to cooperate are allegedly threatened with being framed in drug-possession cases and prosecuted before the High Court.

The complaints also refer to an individual known as ‘Chootan,’ a former drug dealer from Bodiyawatta who is said to have withdrawn from the trade several years ago. He is allegedly being pressured by the three policemen to re-enter the drug trade and work for Avishka.

An audio recording purportedly relating to those alleged threats has been submitted to the authorities and is also said to be circulating on social media.

An audio recording submitted by the complainants and later circulated on social media purportedly features Dubai-based Amila, said to be Avishka’s brother, threatening Chootan that Avishka had vowed to kill Chootan for refusing to cooperate with the policemen and sell narcotics in the Kohuwala area.