Two brothers and their brother-in-law who were involved in large-scale cannabis trafficking in Embilipitiya were arrested by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
A Land Cruiser Prado, an Audi Jeep and a Hilux Cab bought with illegally earned money amounting to Rs.50 million were also taken into police custody.
During the questioning, the suspects have first said that they bought the vehicles from cultivating bananas and by lending money.
However, during the continuous interrogations, the suspects said that they bought the three vehicles with the money earned from cannabis trafficking.
They have also bought luxury houses and estates and an investigation has been launched in this regard.
Meanwhile, State Minister Sisira Jayakody has requested all relevant officials to prepare the necessary legal provisions for the export of medicinal cannabis by October 5.
He said that there is a plan to earn USD 3 billion from the indegenious medicine sector.
Accordingly, State Minister Jayakody pointed out that the existing obstacles should be removed immediately through the Ayurveda Act, Environmental Act and the Customs Ordinance Act etc.