Over 23,100 excise raids conducted

Chaminda PERERA

The Excise Department yesterday said they have carried out 23,136 raids islandwide and collected a revenue of more than Rs 85.2 million in terms of fines upto June, 2010.

According to Excise Department sources, the highest number of raids were conducted in the Gampaha, Kesbewa, Kurunegala and Negombo areas where the number of raids exceeds 500.

Department officials raided five special places where illicit liquor brewing was conducted on a large-scale. They were detected by the Department's special squad in Colombo. The Department has set up special squads in the North Central, Southern, and Central Provinces. Suspects along with the utensils used for the production of illegal liquor are produced before the respective Magistrate by the department officials.

The public are requested to make complaints on illegal liquor dens to the Excise Department on telephone Nos 0112-300170 or 2-300171. Department sources said they only require the details of the places where such activities are taking place and the informant's name or his whereabouts is not necessary.