TWO SUSPECTS APPREHENDED WITH REFUSE TEA

Two suspects had been arrested with a lorry load of refuse tea in transit during a raid at the Angunawela Bridge early last morning, the Police said. They carried out the raid on a tip-off

from the general public. Investigations revealed that the stock packed in 106 bags was being transported from Daulagala in Udunuwara to Colombo to be blended with export quality tea.

A senior STF officer said the bags containing the refuse tea carried forged label of the Sri Lanka Tea Board. He said Udunuwara area carried the disrepute for the racket, which had been going on for a long time and that it had caused serious damage to Sri Lanka’s tea industry.

The suspects and the stock were handed over to the Peradeniya Police for further action.

Zonal Commander of the STF in Kandy M.R. Lathiff, ASP L.A. Rohana, Commanding officer of the Gampola STF camp CI M.S. Pushpkumara, SI N. Amila, Sergeant 650 Ratnayake, PC 74422 Anuruddha, 81267 Wimalaweera, 87905 Chamara, and 13542 Eshan carried out the raid.