Kochi: The Excise Department has seized 20,570 litres of spirit from a private godown at Sreemoolanagaram near Kochi, Excise Minister M Liju said on Friday, October 30, describing it as the biggest such seizure in Keralam's history, the Press Trust of India reported. Malayalam news channel Manorama News also reported a large spirit seizure by the Excise in the Aluva area, saying a stockpile of about twenty thousand litres was found after a period of secret surveillance.

In a Facebook post, the minister said the seizure was made during a raid conducted on Tuesday night as part of Operation Thunder, the enforcement phase of the anti-drug campaign 'Mayangilla Keralam' (Keralam will not be intoxicated) being implemented by the Excise Department. The spirit was stored in 605 cans, each with a capacity of 35 litres, he said.

Three named; stocking allegation yet to be proved

The accused, identified as Thomas, Rejo and Nawas, had allegedly stocked the spirit in the godown for distribution to illicit liquor networks in the southern districts of Keralam and in Palakkad district, according to the minister. That is an allegation by the department at this stage and remains to be proved. The raid was led by Aluva Excise Circle Inspector Jose Prathap, along with Excise Inspector Shyam Kumar, Assistant Excise Inspectors (Grade) Johnson and Arun Kumar, and members of the Excise shadow team.

Congratulating the officers involved in the operation, Liju said the Excise personnel were working round the clock to support the state government's efforts to build a drug-free Keralam. What happens next will turn on the investigation into where the spirit came from and where it was meant to be supplied.

Source: PTI via Swadesi News