The Excise Department has conducted a series of raids across the island based on information received pertaining to fake safety stickers on liquor bottles sold at liquor stores.
During raids conducted in Tambuttegama, Thalawa, Nelubewa and Kahtagasdigiliyya alcohol bottles were identified without safety stickers and fake stickers.
Several bottles of alcohol that did not provide information were identified as invalid.
The Department said following the investigation, the Excise Department will implement the law to the maximum extent against liquor stores and individuals who distributed such alcohol.
The Department issuing a statement said, legal action will be taken against businessmen for illegally producing alcohol without paying due taxes and by pasting fake safety stickers to bypass the computer system in place to ensure authenticity, quality, and payment of taxes.
The raids are being carried on information that consumers are being deceived.
The Department said the counterfeit alcohol was produced with the aim of supplying illegally produced substandard liquor to consumers while claiming them to meet the prescribed standards, gaining undue profits by selling untaxed liquor for a large sum of money, and the non-payment of the excise duty and also VAT and other direct taxes payable on businesses by avoiding bookkeeping processes.
