Illicit liquor haul between Christmas and New Year

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Excise men seized 1,700 bottles of illicit liquor, 165 litres of illegal spirits, one kilogram of cannabis and 13 grams of heroin between Christmas and the New Year.

Excise Department Commissioner General Wasantha Hapuarachchi said yesterday, the illicit liquor was taken into custody from Thotalanga and Peliyagoda in raids by the Excise officers.

The accuses were produced before Colombo Magistrate on Monday and sentenced to two years imprisonment plus an imposition of a fine of Rs. 125,000. Suspects have also been arrested from Negombo, Marawila and Ja-Ela areas on Wednesday and released on bail.