Sender’s generosity to keep mixture packet in a Speed Post led to seizure of liquor parcelled from B’luru

Bengaluru/Kochi: An attempt to smuggle bottles of whiskey from Bengaluru to Kochi via Speed Post was failed after rodents ate up some portions of the packet that was kept at the office of India Post in Kochi.

Speaking in this regard, T A Ashok Kumar, deputy excise commissioner, Ernakulam, said that it was the ‘sender’s generosity’ to keep a mixture packet in the parcel that led to the seizure.

“If not for the mixture the parcelled liquor would have been safely delivered to the recipient,” said Ashok Kumar.

Using courier services to smuggle narcotic products is a common practice but the speed post smuggling attempt has surprised all and it raises suspicion of people using it as a medium to smuggle in liquor during the lockdown,” he said.

The excise officers have launched a probe based on the address of the sender and the recipient written on the parcel.

“We have registered a case charging section 58 of Abkari Act which is a non-bailable offense. Liquor made in other states is not permitted in Kerala as per the Abkari Act and the case will be treated in line with brewing and selling arrack here. The punishment for the offence is 10 years of imprisonment and Rs one lakh fine,” he said.