By Kalinga Weerakkody
In two separate raids conducted by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) the police arrested nine suspects wanted in connection with a spate of robberies who had also run a porn CD centre last week.

The raids were conducted by OIC Crimes (North Division) Sumith Perera under the supervision of CCD director SP Gamini Seneviratne last week.

In the first raid four suspects who were wanted in connection with the spate of robberies including the payroll heist of Rs. 1 1/2 lakhs from a security firm in Modera, were remanded till October 15 after they were produced before the Aluthkade Magistrate on September 19.

Perera said the heist was carried out on September 10 by the suspects who had intercepted the motor bike of the person carrying the payroll in a three-wheeler at toy gun point. The victim had been carrying the payroll from the head office situated in the Fort towards Modera.

Police said the suspects were apprehended from the Panchikawatte, Dekatana, Pettah and Welimada areas.

The OIC said investigations had revealed that some suspects even had a hand with underworld activists.

The same gang had been involved in the heist of Rs. 15 lakhs from the ‘French Corner’ outlet in Borella six months ago and the hijack of a van from the Minuwangoda area.

The police had been able to uncover a spate of robberies which had been planned by the suspects.

In the second detection the police arrested five suspects who had allegedly run a porn VCD centre at Kathiresan Mawatha in the Pettah.

The suspects had been remanded till October 2.

Police had also recovered around 20 porn VCDs.

This was one of the biggest detections made by the CCD which was set up last month to prevent underworld activities and heists which had increased during the recent past.

The detection was made by the OIC (Crimes) North Division of the CCD which had been vested with powers to operate in areas such as Modera, Grandpass, Kotahena, Maligawatte, Keselwatte, Foreshore, Harbour, the Fort and the Pettah areas in addition to the respective police stations.