KOCHI: Kalady police on Monday arrested five persons with
100 litres
of spirit which was being transported for making illicit liquor.
Police said that the accused used to take spirit reportedly meant for making sanitizer from Aluva to a hideout at Mattoor, where they used to mix essence of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and add colour to it. The accused then used to sell it as ‘Brandy’. One litre was sold for Rs 3,500, police said.
The arrested persons are identified as Freddy Jose (24), Sona Dickson (34), Anu Thomas (30), Binil Antony (28) and Sajith Varghese (34). Police said that spirit was arranged by Varghese, an Angamaly-based man who had several cases against him, while the rest were arrested for their involvement in the production and sale of illegal liquor.
Police said that the accused were nabbed after getting a tip-off. The area was kept under surveillance leading to the seizure and arrest, police said.
Police seized as much as Rs 76,000 from the locaton at Mattoor. According to police, they have received information about the persons who gave the spirit to the accused. A special team has been formed to probe the case.
The accused will be produced in court on Tuesday. Police said the remaining accused would soon be nabbed.
Meanwhile, an excise team at
Angamaly
seized and destroyed 100 litres of wash used for brewing arrack from an abandoned plot near a canal at Angamaly. An investigation is on to find the accused.