Illegal liquor hidden in water bottles busted in Mahara raid

A major racket involving the sale of illicit liquor disguised as bottled water was uncovered by the island-wide Excise Special Operations Unit.

Officials discovered the operation during a raid conducted on 28 April at a house in the Dalupitiya, Mahara.

28 bottles of 375 ml containing illicit spirits, sealed to appear as ordinary water bottles, were seized during the operation.

The Excise Special Operations Unit stated the total volume of liquor amounted to 10,500 ml.

A resident of the area was arrested and is due to be produced before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court.

Further investigations continue to locate others involved in this deceptive trade.

The raid took place on the orders of the Excise Commissioner General M. B. A. N. Pemaratne and under the guidance of Deputy Excise Commissioner Kumara Rajapaksa and Excise Superintendent P. N. Hemantha.

The operation was led by Chief Excise Inspector Neil Ekanayake, the Officer-in-Charge of the island-wide Excise Special Operations Unit, supported by Excise Inspector Dissanayake, Sergeant Anura, Corporal Rathnayake (669), Guards Dulan (694) and Pathum (1198), and driver Duminda.