The Sri Lanka Police have recovered two luxury SUVs in the same colour and with the same number plate, it was reported.
According to media reports, the vehicles were found during a special operation conducted by the Western Province Northern District Traffic Division to control crime and traffic offences.
The two seized vehicles were transported to the Motor Traffic Department Commissioner’s Office in Werahera on Monday (Dec 11) to obtain reports on the two SUVs. Motor inspectors have carried out a thorough inspection of both SUVs and have given a report to be submitted to the court.
One of the luxury SUVs had been seized following a raid conducted on Negombo Road on December 05th, during which the driver of the vehicle was found to be only in possession of the revenue licence and not any other valid documents.
The revenue licence was found to be registered under an individual residing in Galle, while the vehicle was also found to have been registered in the Southern Province, and the driver was identified as a resident of Ragama.
Upon suspicion, the Police inspected the vehicle and interrogated the driver during which it was revealed that the vehicle had been mortgaged for Rs. 2.5 million a few months ago and as the owner had failed to settle the mortgage he was utilising the vehicle.
The Police had seized the vehicle due to dissatisfaction over the information provided by the driver, after which they had cross-checked details of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department.
The cross-check revealed that the owner of the vehicle is a resident and a businessman in Galle, and he too owns a vehicle in the same colour and number plate.
Further investigations confirmed that a vehicle identical to that in the custody of the Police was in the possession of the Galle businessman, after which the Police had then taken custody of the vehicle in Galle as well.
The two SUVs have been presented to the Motor Traffic Department Commissioner’s Office to identify which vehicle had been legally brought into the country and properly registered. (NewsWire)