Excise officers seized narcotic drugs valued at nearly Rs. 20 million and arrested 1,360 suspects during countrywide raids conducted during the Vesak season. The detections included 64 kasippu distilleries 338 kasippu sales points, 804 incidents of transport of liquor beyond permitted limits, 44 incidents of possession of heroin, and 110 incidents of possessing cannabis.
Deputy Excise Commissioner Kapila Kumarasinghe said indictments were served on liquor permit holders who sold liquor in contravention of their permit stipulations and they would be produced before Excise Commissioner General R. Semasinghe in due course. The other liquor racketeers were released on excise bail and they will be produced before the relevant magistrates soon.