North Central Province Excise men last week raided a large scale illicit brewery in the Gin Oya forest reserve in Wennappuwa and seized 10,800 goda litres worth Rs. one million stored in 54 barrels.

North Central Province Excise Commissioner Gamini Adhikari, told ‘The Island’ that Excise men are continuously engaged in raiding all illicit breweries and bootleggers joints in the province and this raid was conducted on a tip off.

The owner and his men had escaped arrest, he said.

A team of Excise officers have been detailed to arrest the owner of the brewery, Adhikari said.