Illicit distillery raided at Nagoda

By Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The waterhole adjacent to a land where refuse from the Nagoda hospital and garbage dumped in to it from other places created a big stench in the area. There was a heap of discarded syringes, empty medicine bottles, discarded medicine and other refuse thrown in to the garbage dump. The water hole at Galassa became an eye sore for the people in the area.

The stench emanating from the dump was unbearable that only a few employees of the Nagoda Urban Council who visited the area. UC labourers regularly brought lorry loads of garbage to be dumped there.

Although people shied away from the area, an illicit liquor manufacturer who visited the garbage dump felt Galassa was an ideal and secluded area for him to engage in the illicit liquor business. Thereafter, he set up his illicit business at a land adjacent to the waterhole, that was inaccessible. Residents were aware of what went on because the stench emanating from the garbage dump was so intense that it doused the smell of liquor distillation. The business thrived as the distillation process went on uninterrupted for some time.

An anonymous petition was addressed to the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) at Walana Panadura about the illicit distillation at Galassa, Nagoda. Director of the CAVSF, SSP Jayantha Perera along with ASP D. A. Ranaweera instructed OIC Duminda Balasuriya to raid the place. A raid was arranged on July 29 after acquiring a small boat which they transported it to Galassa, Nagoda that morning.

A few policemen rode the boat while others with plastic bags tied around their legs waded through the knee-deep murky water. It was a nerve racking experience for the policemen too.

Wading through the water policemen noticed polythene bags hung on trees. They found the polythene bags containing illicit liquor.

They also found that some polythene bags had been dipped into the water which contained liquor.

Police found the bags containing 5970 drams of illicit liquor. There were also 14 barrels that contained 70,540 grams of UML ready for distillation.

While the raid was being conducted two men escaped while the main suspect, a wealthy hooch dealer from Nagoda was arrested. He was produced before court and was remanded till August 14.

It was subsequently revealed that the polluted toxic water drawn from the waterhole was used to manufacture illicit liquor.

Investigations had also revealed that the hooch was distributed in areas such as Beruwela, Dodangoda, Tebuwana, Bombuwela, Kalutara and Wadduwa using three-wheeler taxis. OIC CAVSF. Inspector Duminda Balasuriya, Sub- Inspector Rajapakse and officers participated in the raid.