Illicit spirit bound for Kerala from Chhattisgarh seized near Namakkal

Acting on a tip-off about smuggling of spirit to Kerala, Salem PEW Superintendent G Stalin and Namakkal PEW Superintendent R Arularasu ordered a vehicle check by a special police team near Keerambur toll gate on Salem – Karur National Highways.

The cops intercepted a tanker lorry with a Karnataka registration number and carried out a check. According to police, “Checks revealed that the illicit spirit was smuggled in a secret chamber inside the tanker. While the upper compartment of the tanker had refined oil, the illicit spirit was stored clandestinely in the lower chamber.”

Inquiries with the driver Dhanadevan hailing from Singaperumal Kovil area in Kancheepuram district revealed that he was in possession of a fake bill stating the contents in the tanker as refined oil. The spirit was smuggled from Don Building Chemicals Ltd in Chhattisgarh to an illegal distillery unit in Malappuram in Kerala to make illicit liqour.

Police suspect that two more persons from Chennai have been involved in the spirit smuggling racket and special teams of police have been formed to nab the culprits.

Police added that they have seized a total of five lorries smuggling illicit spirit to Kerala just in the last three months.