Over 3,500 people arrested in special raid

• Police say over 6,000 others charged with traffic violations 

In a special four-hour raid conducted by police yesterday a total of 3,560 people were arrested for various offences and another 6,020 had been charged with traffic violations, police said. 

According to Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera the raid was carried out from 3.00 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. last morning and more than 18,000 police officers participated in the effort. 

SP Gunasekera said among those were 1,124 with open arrest warrants issued against them.

“A total of 992 persons were arrested on charges of peddling drugs and illegal liquor while 920 were arrested over various other crimes,” he said.

He said 468 were arrested for drunk driving.

“Yesterday’s raid was the 13th countrywide raid conducted this year under the direction of IGP Pujith Jayasundera. During the raids a total of 36,255 suspects were arrested including 12,099 on warrants,” he said. The spokesman said 64,143 people were charged with traffic violations during these raids.