Kerala: Excise uses drones to track hooch-making centres

THRISSUR: For the first time in the state to prevent illegal alcohol making and sale, Thrissur excise department officials began a search titled operation “Eagle Hunt” with the help of drone cameras.
Using the drone camera search, they were able to find an illegal alcohol making centre at Chalakkudy near Thrissur on Monday. “The drone search found 650 litres of fermented jaggery wash, alcohol making equipment and two gas cylinders.The illegal alcohol making centre was found in Pushpagiri near Meloor in the forest border area. In another drone search, we found over 200 litres of jaggery wash from a paddy field in Naduthuruth,” said Thrissur excise assistant commissioner V A Salim. “In the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, there are hurdles in searching illegal alcohol-making centres. The drone will help in finding these centres inside forest border areas and paddy fields,” said the official.
“The excise department will continue the drone-based search in the coming days.” said the official.
On Tuesday evening, the excise team seized 10 litres of arrack and arrested Nalukettu Biju (35), a resident of Mulayam near Thrissur. The arrack seller used code language “Lockdown” for finding customers. The excise team met the arrack seller and used the same code language and arrested the accused. The accused sold one litre of arrack for Rs 1,500, said excise officials.