Illicit liquor distillery raided at Pamunugama

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

A large stockpile of goda (illegally manufactured liquor) was detected by the Walana Vice Squad when they swooped on an illicit goda distillation plant at the Delathura -Matiwalamabokke swamp in the Pamunugama area last week.

Twenty five barrels containing 48,480 drams of goda were found at the location. “A man was getting ready to distil the goda when we raided the place.” police said. Police sought the support of the Police Marine Division to search for the barrels of the illicit brew buried in the Matiwalama lagoon.

Two mechanised boats were used to search the lagoon where the barrels containing 28,700 grams of goda were found. A 24-year-old man from Pamunugama, found at the distillation site, was taken into custody by the police.

The haul of goda is valued at Rs 500,000, police said. The suspect and the goda were later handed over to the Pamunugama police.

A wealthy businessman from Pamunugama area is behind the racket, police said. The raid was carried out by Director Walana Vice Squad, SP Palitha Fernando and ASP Sudath Masinghe. OIC Walana Vice Squad, IP Duminda Balasuriya, SI Mahendra Perera and Lasantha Dharmasiri and 33 policemen took part in the raid.