Alcohol importer paints himself white, but officials unconvinced

The Excise Department and the Customs yesterday gave a Padukka businessman time till tomorrow to show the reason for the import of 62,000 litres of ethyl alcohol valued at more than Rs. 110 million.

Ethyl alcohol is generally used for the manufacture of liquor, but the businessman had declared to the Customs that the consignment was for the production of paint, an official said.

The Customs last year made a similar detection where a businessman claimed that the substance was imported for the production of cosmetics. The official said they were looking into the possibility that the importer was only an agent of a bigger racketeer

he two ethyl alcohol containers held at the Greyline warehouse were opened yesterday for inspection jointly by the Customs and Excise Department officials.

Excise Commissioner General Vasantha Hapuarachchi said the containers were seized on a tip-off. The stock had come from Vietnam.

He said six people involved in the transport of the two containers were nabbed by officials last Wednesday at Grandpass. The containers were then handed over to the Customs.

Customs Director General Jagath P Wijeweera said liquor manufacturers who imported ethyl alcohol had to pay duty at Rs. 400 a litre.

However, ethyl alcohol imported for other purposes was taxed according to the strength.

The Government has banned the import of ethyl alcohol which has a strength of more than 80 per cent while the stock seized had a strength of 96 per cent.