Liquor ban: Excise officials set to cover Kerala sea routes too

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The excise department has initiated patrolling in the sea off Kerala coast as part of the drive to check flow of illicit liquor in the wake of closure of 1,956 liquor outlets subsequent to Supreme Court directive banning liquor outlets within 500 metres from highways. Excise department sources said that patrolling in the sea was being held with support of Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement in order to curb smuggling of illicit liquor or spirit from other states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. “We have enhanced the surveillance at all border checkposts. In order to plug the chances of smuggling through sea, we have also initiated sea patrolling,” a senior excise official said.

He said that the sea patrolling was being carried out mainly at Kanyakumari, Alappuzha and Kannur regions. Earlier, sea patrolling was initiated by excise department during festivals. Since excise does not boats, the services of Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement was sought, he said. Meanwhile, excise department sources said that since many liquor outlets in all states were closed, there would be a demand for illicit liquor in all states. Hence, the chances of inter-state smuggling was very low. The excise officials are maintaining a vigil against chances of illicit brewery.