Drug kingpin ‘Makandure Madush’ killed in shootout
COLOMBO – Alleged drug kingpin ‘Makandure Madush’ was killed in a supposed shootout between police and suspected underworld figures at a housing complex in Colombo in the early hours of Tuesday (20).
Police said officers of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) had taken the underworld figure, who was deported from Dubai and had been in CID custody for over 18 months, to the Maligawatte Housing Complex, to locate 22gks of heroin said to have been stashed in an apartment at the complex, when suspected underworld figures and drug traffickers had opened fire at them.
Madush and an officer of the CCD sustained injuries in the crossfire that ensued, police said, adding that both were admitted to the National Hospital, but Madush succumbed to his injuries later.
Police said they had recovered 22 kilograms of heroin, two pistols and a motorcycle during investigations at the housing complex.
Madush had been handed over to the CCD on Friday (16) for further investigations into the numerous cases against him.
The CCD is conducting further investigations.
Police said based on information divulged Madush during interrogations, a 10kg consignment of heroin had been seized from the Kotikawatte area on Saturday (17).
Makandure Madush, whose registered names is Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha had been in hiding abroad for several years before being arrested in a hotel in Dubai in October 2018. Thirty one Sri Lankans, including several celebrities were arrested along with him. Madush was deport to Sri Lanka in May 2019, and was taken into CID custody upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Madush, said to be one of Sri Lanka’s most wanted criminals, is said to have operated his drug network, extortion rackets and other criminal activities through his accomplices in Sri Lanka, while hiding aboard..
-ENCL