Police have arrested a leading drug dealer and his accomplice with nearly Rs. 15 million.

The suspects were arrested in the Tangalle area on a tip off received by the STF, police said.

The drug trafficking was carried out using multi-purpose fishing vessels by sea and the arrested suspect is said to be the pilot of a multi-day fishing vessel used for the smuggling.

The 32-year-old suspect, a resident of Seenimodara, was found in possession of Rs. 514,000 in cash, 377 grams of gold jewelery, 10 grams of heroin and a mobile phone.

The main suspect involved in the racket has fled the area and the 60-year-old father of the suspect has been arrested on a charge of aiding and abetting, police said.

A foreign made pistol, two magazines, Rs. 9,002,800, a satellite phone and a mobile phone were found in the house of a suspect in the Gonapinuwala area.

The suspects were handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations, police said