The Valana Central Anti-Corruption Task Force and the Consumer Affairs Authority raided a large-scale racket that repacked expired and unfit-for-consumption sugar into new packaging for market release and sold it for illicit liquor production, arresting its manager.

A covert tip-off received by the Army Military Intelligence Corps was passed on to the Officer-in-Charge of the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Task Force, Chief Inspector Indika Weerasinghe.

The raid was conducted by officers acting on this information alongside officials from the Consumer Affairs Authority, revealing that stored expired sugar was placed into new packaging with altered expiry dates and brand names before being released to the market.

Investigations also uncovered that highly discoloured sugar stocks, completely unfit for human consumption, were sold to individuals manufacturing illicit liquor, our correspondent stated.

Following the raid, officials from the Consumer Affairs Authority proceeded to seal the warehouse in question.