The Excise Department seized foreign liquor bottles worth over Rs. 20 million in a coordinated raid on several outlets in the Colombo area, targeting counterfeit products prepared for sale during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season.
Commissioner General of Excise M.B.N.A. Pemarathna said the Excise Special Operations Bureau deployed around 30 officers in four teams for the operation across the Western Province. Officers found that stickers on the bottles were completely fake, with the products having been prepared for sale without paying applicable taxes.
Investigations are underway to determine how the liquor was imported into the country and the networks behind the counterfeit operation.
The raid comes just days before an island-wide liquor sales ban takes effect on April 13-14 for the Avurudu holiday. Enforcement agencies have intensified pre-holiday operations, with the Consumer Affairs Authority also conducting raids on essential goods and the police deploying enhanced security across the island.
Sources: Ada Derana
