August 7, 2014
Agents of the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board this week discovered and destroyed an illegal moonshine still near the capitol city in Montgomery County and more than 100 marijuana plants in rural Clay County.
ABC Agents assigned to the Moonshine Task Force located the still hidden in an old shed behind an abandoned residence, located on School Spur Road in the Hope Hull community, about 15 miles from Montgomery. Agents, acting on an anonymous tip, found the still Wednesday afternoon. Once on the property, Agents smelled the unmistakable odor of sour mash and noticed items near the shed that are common to moonshine still operations. A search warrant was obtained and executed. Upon entering the shed, Agents found an active seven-barrel whiskey still. A suspect is being sought in this case. The investigation is on-going.
On Tuesday of this week, a pilot with the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s Aviation Unit spotted marijuana growing in a Clay County field, just north of Lineville. Members of the Moonshine Task Force, DPS’s ERAD Unit and Clay County Sheriff’s Office located and destroyed 113 marijuana plants, ranging in size from three feet to more than 13 feet. There are no suspects at this time. Depending on where the marijuana is spotted and the size of the field, members of the ERAD team often locate and cut immediately.
Agents assigned to the ABC Board’s Moonshine Task Force are responsible for investigating tips, developing leads, and are skilled in tracking and following trails that are often associated with this type of illegal operation. Anyone with any information about either of these or any other illegal activity is encouraged to call the ABC Board Hotline at 1-800-327-7341. Cash awards are available for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Contact: Dean Argo, 334-213-6330
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P.O. BOX 304115 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, 36130 PHONE (334) 353-3050
FAX (334) 353-3071