By Roy Denish.
Malabe illicit bottling plant probe expands after police seize counterfeit liquor and alleged fake tax stamps linked to an ex-minister.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: The Malabe illicit bottling plant allegedly operating as a water distribution center on Sudarshana Mawatha was dismantled after a police raid exposed a large contraband liquor network.
During the sudden operation, police seized thousands of liters of counterfeit alcohol filled into more than eighteen thousand bottles. The discovery pointed to a sophisticated illegal manufacturing hub hidden in plain sight. What first looked like a routine raid on local bootleggers soon became a national security and revenue scandal after investigators examined the seized packaging.
Malabe Illicit Bottling Plant Draws Political Scrutiny
An ex-minister has allegedly been linked to the operation, while investigators found that the stickers had been imported from India. The discovery raised serious questions about a possible nexus between foreign suppliers and high-level political figures.
On closer inspection, officials found highly authentic-looking security tax stamps fixed to the bottles. These stamps are legally required to track excise revenue and help guarantee product safety. Interrogations revealed that the cloned stamps had allegedly come from an agent connected to a Chennai-based security printing firm, outside official state procurement channels.
Investigators believe the contraband materials crossed the border so the Malabe illicit bottling plant could imitate legitimate distilleries and avoid state taxes.
The widening probe has placed heavy scrutiny on the former government official. Authorities suspect he provided administrative cover and used political influence to help clear the smuggled materials through customs.
By pushing fake validation stamps into the local supply chain, the network allegedly drained billions of rupees in state excise revenue. It released potentially toxic, unregulated spirits into the retail market.
As the investigation expands to central intelligence units and financial audits, authorities are trying to uncover the full layer of institutional complicity. They are also tracing how far the ex-minister’s alleged protection network reached inside the state apparatus and local distribution chains.
