CAVSF thwart another hooch run

Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

It was on Vesak Full Moon day that an illicit hooch dealer attempted to smuggle a large quantity of moonshine in a luxury vehicle to Horana, against all odds and finally fell for the trap laid by the police.

Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) policemen at Walana, Panadura was tipped off that a wealthy businessman from Wennappuwa was involved in the illicit liquor racket in the Kalutara district.

On earlier occasions too several bootleggers who worked for the businessman were caught while attempting to smuggle moonshine to the Kalutara district. Their vehicles too have been confiscated earlier by courts.

However despite stiff sentences imposed by courts, bootleggers continue to operate in Kalutara, Horana and Panadura areas. It was because the illicit liquor raked in a lot of money. The moonshine dealers knew that the gamble was worth the risk. It was like a game of cat and mouse.

Daily job

The bootleggers often got away from the police dragnet and managed to deliver the merchandise to their agents in the outstations. At times they even manage to pull wool over the eyes of policemen by disguising themselves as businessmen or executives.

Their daily job involved driving back and forth from Wennappuwa to distant places ferrying the cargo. They often carry a stash of cash to bribe corrupt policemen at road barriers. The method worked most of the time.

It was on Vesak Full Moon Day around 1 p.m. when OIC CAVSF, Inspector Duminda Balasooriya received a tip off that a silver coloured Toyota Carina luxury car with tinted windows was cruising at a top speed with a large quantity of illicit hooch, to Horana.

The OIC had reason to believe that the information was credible.

After all it came from a trustworthy informant.

In the meantime OIC Balasooriya detailed several CAVSF men in two police vehicles and instructed them to intercept the rogue Toyota at Bolabotuwa in Horana area.

The men took up position on either side of the road and Around 2'o clock they noticed the sleek Toyota coming from the direction of Kesbewa and proceeding towards Bandaragama.

The policemen alerted the other party and gave chase. Realising that he was sandwiched and his escape routes were blocked he reversed the vehicle at a furious speed. He wanted to get past the police vehicle blocking his exit. But the vehicle hit a concrete pillar and came to a standstill.

The driver stepped on the throttle and lurched forward. While trying to creep past the police vehicle it fell into a ditch. The vehicle was badly damaged.

Polythene bags

The CAVSF men surrounded the vehicle and arrested the driver. In their search they found 13 polythene bags in the rear seat filled with 4680 grams of Unlawfully Distilled Spirits (UDS), two Nokia mobile cellular phones, and cash Rs. 828,777.

The total value of the illicit liquor was worth Rs. 200,000. The car was worth Rs. 25 lakhs. OIC Balasooriya confirmed the same driver was intact arrested by the Milleniya police a few months ago for transporting illicit liquor and his luxury vehicle was confiscated by the Magistrate's Court, Horana.

Following the detection, the seized liquor, cash, Nokia cellular phones and the Luxury car were handed over to the Horana police. The suspect is in custody.

The raid was conducted on the orders of DIG (Staff), D.A. de Fonseka. Director of Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF), Supdt. of Police D.R.L. Ranaweera instructed the OIC, Duminda Balasooriya to conduct the raid.