Kochi: The excise and coastal police have started a joint search operation along the Kochi coast following specific intelligence inputs of illicit liquor being smuggled into the region from neighbouring states through sea routes ahead of the Onam festive season.
“We’re carrying out surprise checks in boats venturing for fishing off the sea from the Kochi coastal areas. On Saturday midnight alone, over 20 fishing boats were inspected. Some of them have been detained since the fishermen failed to produce proper documents. However, the search for the illicit brew will go on,” said M.K. Santharam, Circle Inspector police, Coastal police station.
Earlier, the excise department got a specific input of spurious liquor being smuggled in from places like Goa and Mangalore. “A racket is suspected to be using the sea route, shipping in the brew from nearly 30 distilleries operating along the Karnataka-Goa border. We suspect that they are using boat yards of Ernakulam as a transit point for smuggling liqu-or bound for even other districts like Idukki,” said K. Suresh Babu, deputy excise commissioner.
The sleuths have also alerted the Kadalora Jagratha Samithy, which includes fishermen, to report any suspicious activities along the Kochi coast.
