Police have uncovered a large-scale illicit liquor manufacturing operation operating under the guise of a bottled drinking water business in Kaduwela, seizing more than 18,500 bottles of illegal liquor and arresting six suspects.
Acting on intelligence, officers of the Western Province North Crime Division raided premises on Sudarshana Road in Kaduwela on Saturday, where they discovered an alleged illegal liquor manufacturing facility concealed within a business purportedly engaged in the production and sale of bottled drinking water.
The raid resulted in the seizure of 18,575 bottles of locally manufactured liquor, each containing 180 ml, amounting to 3,345.5 litres. Police also recovered four one-litre bottles and one 750 ml bottle labelled as foreign liquor.
In addition, officers seized a bottle of ethanol suspected to have been used in the production process, equipment believed to have been used to manufacture the illicit liquor, and 50 grams and 200 milligrams of Kerala cannabis.
The six suspects, aged 30, 43, 58, 59 and 62, are residents of Mihintale, Maradana, Wattala, Webada South, Getalawa and Sippikulama.
Police suspect the operation had been functioning on a commercial scale and are investigating whether the illicit liquor was distributed to multiple areas while operating under the cover of a legitimate bottled water business.
Further investigations are being conducted by the Western Province North Crime Division.