Special squads in action against illicit liquor trade in Kerala ahead of local body polls

With the Kerala local body elections approaching, the Excise department has intensified its surveillance measures through newly formed strike squads aimed at curbing hooch production and the smuggling of liquor. Officials confirm that tribal regions will receive special attention following confidential reports that illicit liquor may be used to influence voters. 

According to department sources, a network of local informants has been established to ensure timely alerts about suspicious activities. People who provide credible information on drug pushers or liquor smugglers will be eligible for rewards, and their identities will be kept confidential. To encourage public participation, district-level and taluk-level helpline numbers have been circulated for sharing information on suspected movements. 

In Kozhikode district, special squads have already intensified flash inspections across the hilly regions where several hooch dens were destroyed in earlier operations. As part of the heightened vigil, individuals previously arrested or convicted in drug trafficking cases have been placed under close monitoring. Joint raids with local police teams are also under way in locations previously identified as potential hotspots.

Role of migrant labourers

An Excise inspector involved in recent seizures revealed that there was a visible spike in the participation of migrant labourers in liquor smuggling. Many, he said, engage in the trade after regular working hours in search of quick money. He added that squads had already been instructed to track frequent inter-district and inter-State travel, particularly for bulk purchases from Mahe and Goa, where the lower prices attract illegal operators. 

Coastal patrols

Preventive officers with the Excise squad confirm that arrangements are in place for coastal patrols to prevent smuggling through fishing boats in the northern Kerala region. The coastal police and the marine enforcement squad are in support of these efforts, ensuring coordinated checks along the vulnerable stretches of the coastline, they added. 

Simultaneously, police patrol squads have intensified flash inspections in trains and inter-district buses following instructions from the election authorities. The Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force have joined the operations, enabling checks across major transit routes.

According to senior Excise department officers, the coordinated effort is expected to seal possible channels of illicit liquor movement during the time of election. Frequent review meetings are also in progress to assess the performance of the field-level squads and the details of various seizures, they said.