Expired peanut re-packaging ring busted: Police

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka Police on Tuesday (Feb. 16) uncovered a scheme that involved the re-packaging of expired peanuts. "The Peliyagoda Police seized a stock of expired peanuts from a factory located in Nuge road, Peliyagoda during a special operation conducted yesterday (16); police recovered 118,000 re-packed peanut packets," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Wednesday (Feb. 17). According to DIG Ajith Rohana, based on investigations, the expiry date of the peanut packets has already lapsed; however, the factory owners had replaced the date with a new expiry date. The seized goods are worth Rs. 30 million, he further noted. Sri Lanka police have informed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) in order to conduct further investigation. "Furthermore, a police team is deployed at the factory premises, which has been sealed and further investigations are underway," the Deputy Police Chief added.