Massive foreign liquor racket bared

Wealthy businessman held:

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

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A massive racket running into several millions of rupees was bared following the detection of a large haul of expensive foreign liquor and cartons of foreign cigarettes at a two-storied house in Borella when the Central Anti Vice Striking Force(CAVSF) raided the premises on Friday.

The liquor and the cigarettes have been valued at Rs. 7 lakhs, police told the Sunday Observer.

Police took in for questioning a wealthy businessman, the main occupant of the household for running an illicit liquor outlet. He had deprived the state coffers of millions of rupees over the years, police said.

The expensive brands of foreign liquor includes 34 bottles of Chivas Regal, 16 bottles of Johnny Walker blue labels, 21 bottles of Absolut Vodka, six bottles of Golden Gin, five bottles of Napoleon Brandy, five bottles of Bacardi Rum and 10 bottles of Grants Whisky. The cigarettes include 25 cartons of Marlboro and two Cartons of Dunhill cigarettes. It is believed that the suspect had supplied expensive liquor and cigarettes to wealthy customers and local companies at a discount rate for several years.

The suspect was handed over to the Borella police along with the liquor to be produced in court.

Meanwhile, the Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) Walana raided the Muthurajawela swamp which had been a haven for moonshine dealers and recovered 5,565 bottles of Unlawfully Distilled Spirits (UDS) packed in 1,800 polythene bags last week. Policemen disguised as labourers at the Colombo-Katunayake super highway who waded through knee-deep mud raided the illicit distillery at sunset. Several employees at the distillery had fled on seeing the policemen approaching the distillery.

However, police arrested one suspect and seized the moonshine.

The illicit operation is said to be masterminded by a millionaire businessman in the Kandana area, police said. A police spokesman said that each polythene bag contained 57 bottles.

The spirits were to be transported to areas in Colombo, Kurunegala, Warakapola, Kalutara and the Gampaha to be distributed among wholesale dealers in the area.