large scale moonshine distillery in the thick of a mangrove:

Over 1,000 liquor dens raided

By Kurulu Kariyakarawana

Excise Commissioner General, Wasantha Hapuarachchi recently received information from an anonymous caller regarding a large scale moonshine distillery in the thick of a mangrove in the Tudella lagoon in Ja Ela.

Despite the constant raids and the watchful eyes of the law enforcement authorities, the illicit brewery was in operation unhindered due to its secret location.

Also there was difficulty to reach the spot through tough terrain in the wetlands. This had helped the business to flourish without being detected by either the police or excise officials in the area.

Following information, Commissioner General Happuarachchi directed one of the special units within the department reputed for its achievements in controlling unlawful activities.

Excise Bureau of Special Operations (BSO) is a special unit within the department that has the authority to conduct raids and detections in any part of the country without prior permission from Divisional Excise Officers nor the other law enforcment authorities.

Reputed for carrying out successful raids in the farthest corners of the dense jungles in Thanamalwila in search of Ganja and tracking down drug smuggling rackets being carried out in the mid seas, off Thalaimannar, Excise BSO was summoned to locate the illicit liquor distillery in Ja Ela.

Superintendent of Excise, BSO Rohan Wijeratne was directed to conduct a raid and the blueprints were laid to take the men behind the illegal business by surprise. More information was gathered by scouting the area for sometime and the final preparations were made to launch the raid.

A team lead by OIC Excise BSO, Rosmand Fernando was deployed along with Excise Inspectors Thilak and Ranaweera who set off from the Excise Headquarters in Slave Island. The team that arrived in Tudella, Ja Ela had to change their mode of transport from a vehicle to a boat to cross the marshes in the vast wetlands.

The journey in the lagoon was not smooth as they had to make their own route through a maze of mangroves that stood in a hostile manner in the area identified as Tharakuliya. After a harsh boat trip the sleuths found the place that had been used to brew Kasippu for a long time.

The team quickly surrounded the small islet covered with a wall of mangroves creating an ideal location for the unlawful activity. They nabbed a person who was already engaged in distilling moonshine by heating barrels of Goda (semi brewed liquor).

Over 50 barrels of Goda were seized from the spot, and valued at several hundred thousand rupees. Also 700 bottles of Kasippu were recovered. Although one suspect was arrested several more are believed to be connected to the business. He was produced in the Kanuwana Magistrate's court and a fine of Rs.125, 000 was imposed.

The suspects had been releasing the waste of the brewed liquor to the wetlands polluting the environment and the animals.

The detection was conducted by Excise BSO team lead by Superintendent Rohan Wijeratne, OIC Excise BSO Rosmand Fernando, Excise Inspectors Thilak, Ranaweera, Excise Sergeant Major Sarath, Excise Sergeants Lakmal, Wijesinghe, Excise Guards Ratnayake, Ukwatta, Ravi, Liyanage and Excise Driver Jayantha under the special instructions of Deputy Excise Commissioner (Crimes) Wasantha Dissanayake.

During the first half of 2013 starting from January 01 to June 30 the Excise BSO had conducted 1151 raids of 308 of them are TCR (Technical Crime Report) cases. This was an increase compared to the first six months of 2012 which had a total of 877 cases only.

These cases included possession of illicit liquor, sale of arrack without a permit, sale of foreign liquor without a permit, possession and sale of Toddy without a permit, possession and sale of cigarettes imported without paying the duty, possession of Ganja and production of illicit liquor.

The raids were conducted in the areas of Wattala, Negombo, Chilaw, Puttalam and in many areas on the southern coastal belt.

A sum of Rs.5.8million had been earned as revenue through fines imposed on the cases. One of the major cases that gained a sum of Rs.400, 000 as revenue through fines was the case that sold foreign liquor through an online service provider few weeks ago.

Also a large tobacco case was detected in Galewela area where over 20, 000 kilograms of illegal stock of tobacco was seized that was imposed a fine of Rs.300, 000.

Meanwhile, several raids were carried out in Colombo in nightclubs, casinos and karaoke dens that had defied excise laws. Six such places in Kollupitiya and Bambalapitiya area had been raided during the past couple of months.