Excise Dept. steps up raids; boosts revenue

The Finance Ministry said yesterday that the Excise Department has stepped up raids on illicit trade as well as enhanced its revenue. 

It said the Department has conducted 24,150 raids throughout the country during the first six months of this year under its program to minimise life risks through the elimination of illicit liquor. 

“These raids have been carried out under the charges of brewing illicit liquor, possession of such liquor, possession of illegally distilled spirits, possession of distillery equipment, sale of illicit liquor and illegal sale of foreign liquor,” the Finance Ministry quoted Excise Commissioner General H.G. Sumanasinghe as saying.

The overall raids conducted in 2018 were 49,312. The revenue of Rs. 253 million as fines received from the penalty of the raids conducted by the Excise Department has been credited to the relevant Provincial Council. 

Finance Ministry also said that the Excise revenue has been on the increase since 2014 from Rs. 68 billion. The excise revenue target for 2019 is Rs. 130 billion and it has already reached up to Rs. 68 billion at the end of July this year.

It said the Excise Department which strives to minimise illicit liquor, is intending to eliminate life risk of the people who may be exposed to illicit liquor. It has set up 56 branch offices throughout the island in this regard. Over 1,200 officers have been serving in these branch offices.

The Department has established five special operation units which are empowered to carry out raids in any part of the country to control illicit liquor and for prevention of narcotics. The officers attached to these special units have authority to conduct special operations in any part of the island and their main task is to subjugate illegal liquor rackets. These officers specifically obtain public co-operation in this regard and also deploy decoys in such operations.