Kochi: In two separate raids, the Excise State Enforcement Squad seized 8,500 litres of spirit and arrested three people in the city. Baiju aka Kuttappai, 50, of Thammanam, Sam Jamal, 38, and N.V. Kurian, 65, of Kaloor were detained. Following a tip-off near Kalamassery about 9 p.m., a truck carrying what was purported to be sanitisers was intercepted on its way to Idukki.

Excise inspectors found 1,400 litres of spirit hidden in 40 cans hidden in carton boxes instead of sanitisers. "We were taken to a paint godown in Edayar's industrial neighbourhood later that night after questioning the two people in the truck." "We found a secret chamber with nearly 7,000 litres of spirit stored in 203 cans," said B. Tenymon, Ernakulam's assistant excise commissioner. Kurian, who had been on the run since Wednesday, was apprehended on Thursday afternoon at his home. He was, however, brought to the hospital due to bodily discomfort.

Excise officials also confiscated a sack full of labels from various brands of Indian Made Foreign Booze, raising the possibility that the alcohol was used to make contaminated liquor known as'seconds' in the industry. "The fact that the godown was in an industrial area with hundreds of vehicles passing through on a regular basis provided them with the perfect cover for carrying spirit while attracting little attention," said P.V. Aleyas, Ernakulam's Deputy Excise Commissioner. The liquor samples will be tested at the Regional Chemical Examiner's Laboratory in Kakkanad.

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