Kochi: Foreign made liquor is smuggled from Mahe and brought to Kochi via sea. Excise officers said the goods are smuggled in fishing boats.
The Excise department were informed about this earlier itself. As a result, a special search was carried out on sea. The smuggling via boats was confirmed by Excise after they captured 36 litres of liquor from a car at Munambam on January 10. The liquor captured that day was licensed only for sale in Mahe.
The officials said that there is a large network working behind this. They have informed fishermen to inform the department when they take boats, not used for fishing, to the sea. However, they confirm that the real fishermen are not involved in the smuggling.
Strong action will be taken
Strong action will be taken against smuggling of foreign liquor via sea. We will investigate whether the liquor brought to the harbor is illegally made. We will also stop liquor from being taken outside. -MS Ranjith, Excise Deputy Commissioner
