Gold worth Rs 30m, Rs 100,000 cash heist by SI-led gang of four

A robber gang of four, led by a Sub Inspector (SI) with two army deserter accomplices and another person, claiming to be officials from a ‘Foreign Bureau’ checking on Indian nationals working illegally as goldsmiths in jewellery shops, got away with 3.7 kg of gold worth nearly Rs 30 million and Rs 100,000 in cash.

The SI was an Intelligence Officer attached to a police unit in the outskirts of Colombo.

The smartly clad SI in a long sleeved shirt and slacks, approached the manager of a jewellery manufacturing shop at Wolfendhal Street, Colombo 13, and showed an identity card, claiming he was an officer of the ‘Foreign Bureau’. He then said they had information that Indian nationals without valid visas were employed here, while a stock of gold with- out licences was also being stored here.

The SI stayed with the manager and ordered his men to search all four floors of the building.

Nine Indian nationals working there had their passports and mobile phones seized.

One of the intruders suddenly produced a small bottle and said they had found heroin in it, and questioned the staff whether they were packing heroin for distribution at this location.

Then each employee was handcuffed and put into a room.

With the staff out of the way, the rogues visited every room and collected all the gold in whatever form.

Then, just before exiting the shop, the manager was locked in another room.

Following a 40-minute operation they left the premises after placing a padlock on the main gate.

One of the handcuffed staff members managed to free himself, jumped out of a window and alerted people outside.

The Police on being summoned were able to identify the vehicle in which the gang escaped, on close analysis of the CCTV footage obtained from nearby premises, while also being able to identify that a Sub Inspector was involved with the gang.

Police have traced the driver of the car and found he was a hired hand, while the rest of the gang is yet to be apprehended.

Director- Colombo Crime Division, SP Nishantha Soysa told the Sunday Times that investigations are proceeding with the assistance of the Wolfendhal Police.

"We are in possession of vital information on this robbery and expect to make a breakthrough soon," he added.