Sri Lanka, Sept. 14 -- Officers from the Consumer Affairs Authority raided a secret footwear manufacturing facility operating in Kawdana, Dehiwala. The footwear that was produced was sold in one of the country's well-known garment and fashion retail chains.

The raid on September 11 followed a lengthy follow-up investigation based on invoices for shoes purchased from this retail chain.

According to findings from the investigation, the soles and other parts of the shoes had been classified as raw materials and imported into the country separately to avoid import duties on finished footwear.

Investigators said these parts were then assembled and glued together at the secret location in Kawdana to make complete shoes.

The shoes that were ...