KANNUR: The Onam season is yet to begin, but the tipplers in the state, who are ‘deprived of’ sufficient quota owing to the closure of bars and the decrease in the number of liquor outlets, are exploring possible ways to ensure the regular flow of the spirit. The smugglers are there to help them out, too.
Whenever there is a huge demand, especially on dry days, the smugglers keep their stock ready and sell it for a high price, causing headache to the excise officials. If there is any dry day round the corner, a large quantity of liquor is smuggled in advance from Mahe. This has been more prominent after the closure of bar and other liquor outlets.
“The smuggling of liquor from Mahe to the southern districts of the state in large quantity is on the rise and the excise department has intensified search in many places,” said Kannur excise deputy commissioner V V Surendran.
Even if a single bottle is found to be brought from Mahe, case would be filed, they warned. In July, 274 litres of liquor smuggled from Mahe were seized.
On Monday, the excise department officials seized 53 bottles of liquor smuggled from a man identified as Ajeshkumar, 36, from Ayikkara here during a raid; he was arrested. The liquor was kept to sell here on August 1, which was a dry day.
Also, the smuggling of liquor from Goa via train is increasing, he said. On Monday, the excise officials and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) recovered 16.5 litres of liquor smuggled from Goa during a joint search in the Lokmanya Tilak-Thiruvananthapuram express.
Many people are not aware of the quantity of liquor they are permitted to stock and this lands them in trouble, the officials said. “An individual has permission to stock up to three litres,” said the excise official.
