Illicit foreign liquor worth Rs.1mn seized in Colombo

A stock of illicit foreign liquor worth approximately Rs.1 million was seized by the Special Task Force and officials of the Excise Department during a raid conducted in Colombo this evening.

Acting on a tip-off received by the Special Narcotic Unit of the Finance Ministry, the STF and the Excise Department recovered 108 bottles of foreign liquor at Jawatte Road in Colombo 5 while they were being transported in a hybrid car.

Head of the Unit Wing Commander Ravi Jayasinghe said a suspect was taken into custody along with the consignment of liquor. He said the liquor was smuggled into the country without paying the government tax.

It was revealed that the suspect was transporting liquor that was to be distributed in the Kaduwela area.

Excise official said the suspect would be produced in the Maligakanda Magistrate's Court today. The Excise Department is conducting further investigations into the smuggling operation. (Darshana Sanjeewa)

Video by Darshana Sanjeewa

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja