Beruwala businessman who maintained store of weapons in his house!

Beruwala businessman who maintained store of weapons in his house!

The police unit of Matugama were able to seize a mini Uzi gun used made in Pakistan intended to protect diplomats, an automatic weapon, 13 weapons and a stock of ammunition yesterday (9) from a house belonging to a millionaire gem businessman in Paththekade area, Beruwala and the said businessman and another person was taken into custody. The following items were taken into custody: 2 weapons of 2.2 mm, a weapon manufacture in Pakistan, 10 12-bore shotguns, over 1500 bullets used in 2,2 mm. type weapons, bullets of 2.2 mm, parts of weapons, an axe, 3 machetes, some

instruments used to aim at a target and also 20 milligrammes heroin.

Matugama Division Law Enforcement unit police constable Mr. Gunawardena (44817) received a tip off that two persons had shot down a stag and was transporting its meat in a luxury motor vehicle and on apprehending the said motor vehicle and the two persons in Baduraleeya - Lathpandura area, on inspection had detected the body of the killed stag hidden in the boot of the vehicle and also 12-bore gun, the ammunition and some empty bullets.

On interrogation of the two persons it was revealed that one of them was a gem dealer hailing from Beruwala Paththekade while the other was a friend of his. The gem merchant taken into custody was questioned at length and it was revealed that further weapons were available at his two-storied house and when a team of special police officers conducted a raid on the said location they managed to find in the businessman's room as well as at various spots in the house several hidden firearms and other items. It was found at initial investigations by police that the suspect gem dealer was someone who had been trained in precisely shooting at a target.

This suspect, the gem dealer named Mohommed Jaufer Abdul Nazeer was 40 years of age. A high-ranking police officer said that he is being detained on detention orders and making inquiries to ascertain whether the suspect has handed over these firearms to underworld gangs and as to how he came in possession of these firearms.

Last evening (9) a press briefing was held at Matugama Police Superintendent's office and on that occasion Police Spokesman, Mr. Ruwan Gunasekera revealed information about these suspects being taken into custody saying that the suspect aged 40 years supposed to be a gem merchant's driver was the second suspect arrested and that the latter was the former's driver and that interrogations are underway to determine how they had secured these weapons and for what reason these weapons were used. The police spokesman further said that the two suspects will be produced before Matugama Magistrate today (10) and that it is hoped to obtain permission from court to further interrogate the main suspect. 

- M.C. Perera-