Over 400 errant traders nabbed in CAA raids

Shirley WIJESINGHE

Four hundred and fifty traders have been taken into custody by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) for selling goods over the stipulated controlled price during the New Year festive season, sources said.

The raid has been conducted from April 1 to 12 and the suspects will be produced before court next week.

Trade, Marketing Development and Co-operative Services Minister Bandula Gunawardana said CAA collected Rs. 5.5 million during last three months by conducting 974 raids.

"This is the largest number of raids conducted by the CAA for a period of four months," Minister Gunawardana stressed. Among the number of rice sacks taken into custody from a retail shop of Pettah was 180.

Meanwhile, 144 rice sacks seized from a shop in Kandy were confiscated.

According to the Minister selling a kg of rice of samba, nadu, and kekulu, chicken, sugar and dhal at more than the stipulated controlled price of Rs. 70, Rs. 65, Rs. 320, Rs. 73 and Rs. 175 is an offence and such raids will continue in the future.