The Police Headquarters has barred 704 officers of the Criminal Investigations Department from leaving the country without prior approval.

The name list of CID officers has already been sent to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

The decision follows CID Chief Inspector Nishantha Silva's departure for Switzerland, last afternoon.

Silva was handling several high-profile cases including the murder of Wasim Thajudeen, Prageeth Eknaligoda's disappearance and the abductions of 11 youth.