A car that fled from police officers during an attempted inspection, endangering the lives of the officers, has been found abandoned on Janaraja Mawatha, Medawatta, Matara, the Police said.
According to the Police, the driver was also arrested while hiding in the jungle area behind the University of Ruhuna.
The Police said that the Special Rider Team attached to the Matara Division, which focuses on combating narcotics and organized crime, was preparing to inspect a suspiciously parked car near the Wellamadama Vehicle Emission Testing Centre in Devinuwara at around 8.50 pm yesterday.
When officers approached the vehicle, the driver suddenly sped away, causing injuries to the police officers, prompting the officers to fire several gunshots at the fleeing vehicle in response.
A joint search operation was then launched by the Matara Police Station and the Matara Divisional Crime Investigation Unit to locate the suspect and the vehicle, after which the car was later found abandoned on Janaraja Mawatha in Medawatta, Matara.
The Police state subsequently, at around 10.30 pm, the suspect who had been driving the vehicle was arrested while hiding in the forested area behind the University of Ruhuna.
A full search of the vehicle revealed 2,230mg of ‘ICE’ narcotics, a live hand grenade, paraphernalia used for drug consumption, and a sum of Rs. 105,630 suspected to have been earned through drug trafficking.
The Matara Headquarters Police are conducting further investigations into the suspect. (Newswire)