STF raid illicit toddy bottling plant in Kochchikade

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana  

Police Special Task Force personnel from the Gonahena STF Camp raided an illegal toddy bottling plant in Kochchikade on Tuesday evening and arrested three suspects along with a stock of illicit toddy.   

The STF personnel on information raided an illicit toddy manufacturing and bottling plant at Owitiyawatte in Kochchikade and found that the bottling of toddy had been carried out without a valid license.   

Although, the premises had been issued with a license to collect and bottle toddy   

for sale, the perpetrators had even artificially enhanced the quantities of toddy they collect by adding chemicals. The license of the premise had been revoked by the Department of Excise sometime back over instances of not adhering to the permit conditions but the suspects had continued to carry out the illegal business, , the police said.   
The police arrested a 49-year-old male residing in Katana with two 29-year-old females living in Kochchikade from the site, who had been engaged in producing and bottling the chemically enhanced toddy. They also seized 4,000 liters of Goda (semi brewed liquor), 2,760 625 ml bottles, 7.5 kilograms of sugar, five kilograms of ammonia and three 500gram packets of yeast. 

 
STF Chief Inspector M M N K Marasinghe and a team conducted the raid. The arrested suspects had been handed over to the Negombo Excise Station for further action.