Police Crack Down on Illegal Vehicle Trade in Separate Western Province Operations

COLOMBO (News 1st); A suspect has been arrested in Wellampitiya with 16 motorcycle engines that were illegally imported into the country without paying customs duties, police said.

The arrest was made during a raid carried out in the Brandiyawatta area of Wellampitiya, based on information received by officers of the Western Province Intelligence Division. 

The suspect, a 53-year-old resident of the Brandiyawatta area, was taken into custody along with the engines.

Investigations have revealed that the motorcycle engines were being kept by the suspect for assembly purposes, police said.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation, three suspects involved in an illegal vehicle racket using forged documents were arrested in the Kelaniya area. 

During the raid, police recovered a motor vehicle that had been prepared using fake documentation, along with 19 rounds of live ammunition used for M60-type firearms.

The suspects arrested in Kelaniya are aged 26, 35, and 40, and are residents of the Nittambuwa, Randawana, and Makola areas.

Further investigations into both incidents are being conducted by officers of the Western Province North Crimes Division.