Man arrested with large stock of hooch

An individual who had in his possession 673 bottles of illicit liquor was arrested by a team of officers from the Maho Excise Office.

Under interrogation, the suspect had stated that the street value of the stock of illicit hooch was about Rs. 269,400.

Excise Department Officers carried out the raid on information received by Excise Guard Gayan Anilkumara.

They said the stock was being readied for transportation when they carried out the raid. The 52-year-old-suspect, a resident of Polpithigama, would be produced before the Maho Magistrate, police said.

A team of Excise Officers, under OIC Maho Excise Station D.H.K. Anura and Excise Inspector N.B.K. Piyasena carried out the raid on the instructions of Excise Superintendent Prabath Jayawickreme under the purview of Asst. Commissioner Roy Fernando.