Three people were arrested in separate raids on cannabis plantations deep inside the Lunugamwehera Forest Reserve, a senior police officer said.[1] A Special Task Force team from the Deberawewa Division carried out the raids.[1] The three suspects were from Angunukolapalessa.[1] They and the ganja seized in the operation were to be produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate, while the plants were burned inside the reserve.[1]

Officers seized about 590 kg of finished ganja, meaning cannabis that had already been processed, in the raids.[1] They also seized 50,000 cannabis plants.[1] Ganja is the local word for cannabis.[1] The plants were set on fire inside the forest reserve, the police account said.[1]

The raids were separate operations against plantations described as lying deep inside the reserve.[1] The arrests were made earlier in the week.[1] The plants were burned in the reserve, and the ganja was to be produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate.[1]