KUALA LUMPUR: Police were forced to open fire at the car tyres of a suspected drug dealer with gunshots after he attempted to escape despite being cornered by police in Jalan Sentul here on Wednesday.
Blocked by unmarked police cars, the 38-year-old suspect reversed his car several times in an attempt to flee after being ambushed by a police team from the city narcotics crime investigation department (NCID) following a tip-off on drug-dealing activities at about 3.30pm.
The suspect crashed into a police car and tried to run down police personnel.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said yesterday that in self-defence and to ensure public safety, police fired several gunshots at the front and back tyres of the suspect’s car.
“This still did not stop the suspect. He attempted to drive over the sidewalk to escape. More gunshots were fired on the other tyres of the car until the suspect gave himself up,” he said.
Mazlan said the suspect, who works as a sundry store assistant, was not injured in the incident.
He said on checking the vehicle police found 450g of heroin and 151g of syabu hidden under the front passenger seat of the suspect’s car.
Mazlan said the suspect tested positive for drug abuse and has a criminal record for drug-related offences.
Videos of the incident taken by the public showing police opening fire at the car were shared in the social media on Wednesday.
