Inquiries carried out by the Ministry of Health have uncovered that the large a consignment of sleeping tablets recovered from an individual in Kosgama recently was meant to be used for the manufacturing of liquor.
The drugs were to be misxed with toddy by a relative of the suspect, the director of the Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA), Dr. Hemantha Beneragama said.
He stated that a raid was also carried out on a toddy distribution center in the Kirindiwela area.
Sleeping tablets worth 200,000 rupees were confiscated from a man operating a private pharmacy from his residence following a raid jointly carried out by the National Drugs Authority and Kosgama Police on Friday.
An immediate investigation was launched by the Health Ministry, on the instruction of Minister Maithripala Sirisena, regarding the haul of sleeping tablets, which can be issued only on prescriptions.
It has been reported that the suspects had obtained the sleeping tablets through a wholesale dealer registered in the Colombo District under the National Drugs Authority and that the Health Minister has ordered that his license be canceled immediately and legal action taken.
