Kochi | Excise Minister M Liju on Friday said the department had seized 20,570 litres of spirit from a private godown at Sreemoolanagaram near here, describing it as the biggest such seizure in Keralam's history.

In a Facebook post, the minister said the seizure was made during a raid conducted on Tuesday night as part of 'Operation Thunder', the enforcement phase of the anti-drug campaign 'Mayangilla Keralam' (Keralam will not be intoxicated) being implemented by the Excise Department.

The spirit was stored in 605 cans, each with a capacity of 35 litres, he said.

The accused, identified as Thomas, Rejo and Nawas, had allegedly stocked the spirit in the godown for distribution to illicit liquor networks in the southern districts of Keralam and Palakkad district, according to the minister.

The raid was led by Aluva Excise Circle Inspector Jose Prathap, along with Excise Inspector Shyam Kumar, Assistant Excise Inspectors (Grade) Johnson and Arun Kumar, and members of the Excise shadow team.

Congratulating the officers involved in the operation, Liju said the Excise personnel were working round the clock to support the state government's efforts to build a drug-free Keralam.