The Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Unit has launched a probe into properties allegedly owned by the notorious underworld figure Ranga Prasad Gunasekera, alias “Wanathe Chuttan”.According to the Colombo Crimes Division, “Wanathe Chuttan” is suspected of unlawfully acquiring properties valued at Rs.

40 million.

The police have already seized a Toyota Aqua worth Rs.

10 million.It has been reported that the criminal constructed a house on Magazine Road in Borella, estimated at Rs.

30 million. Investigations have further revealed that “Wanathe Chuttan” was the motorcyclist responsible for carrying out a fatal shooting using a T56 firearm on May 20, 2023, in the Borella area.The raid was carried out simultaneously with the ‘Yukthiya’ operation initiated by Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.In this vein, a total of 52 persons were arrested while in possession of heroin, methamphetamine (‘Ice’), cannabis and other drugs on Friday (22 Dec.), when the ‘Yukthiya’ operation was carried out in the Balangoda police division.A stock of 71 grams of ‘Ice’, 03 grams of heroin and 550 grams of weed were seized during the raids.