Illicit 'IMFL' factory busted, two held
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, March 26 2023: A factory which produced illicit and spurious Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) was busted by police today.

A large number/quantity of IMFL and ingredients/chemicals used in manufacturing IMFL were also seized from the factory located at Khongjom.

Briefing media persons today, Thoubal SP Jogeshchandra Haobijam said that they received a specific input about the presence of an illegal IMFL manufacturing unit at Khongjom Maning Leikai.

Acting on the input, a police team led by Khongjom police station OC Inspector K Santosh rushed to the residence of one Thokchom Bobo (43) s/o late Th Nokul of Khongjom Maning Leikai at around 9.30 am today.

Illicit 'IMFL' factory busted, two held

Many materials, ingredients and chemicals used in producing illicit liquor were seized from the residence of Bobo but he could not be arrested as he went into hiding, the SP said.

Nonetheless, Bobo's wife Achoubi Devi (40) and mother Bino (60) were arrested by police.

Jogeshchandra said that samples of all the ingredients/chemicals seized from the busted factory would be sent to the Food Safety Department.

Many of the ingredients/chemicals used in preparing 'IMFL' might not be safe and consumption of IMFL thus prepared may be very harmful to health, the SP said before appealing to all the people to refrain from opening such liquor factories.

A case would be registered against all the arrested persons and befitting action would be initiated as per law, the SP further said.

IMFL produced at the busted Khongjom factory were sold at Churachandpur, Kakching Lamkhai, Pallel and Khongjom etc, further said the SP.

Eight cases of Old Monk (750 ml), 10 cases of Old Monk (375 ml), 37 cartons of empty bottles, 44 bundles of cartons, 14 empty gallons used in preparing illicit liquor, four water jars, three gunny bags containing plastic caps which were used to cover the lids of plastic bottles, three plastic jars containing unknown chemicals and one roll of sticker marked as McDowell's (used for trademark) were recovered from the busted factory.

Liquor from Myanmar seized : Personnel of 5 Assam Rifles seized 720 bottles of foreign liquor of Myanmar origin from H Mongjang Village, Moreh at around 8 am today and arrested four persons, reports our Moreh correspondent today.

The seized liquor includes beer (240 bottles) and rum (480 bottles) .

Details of the people who have been arrested for transporting the foreign liquor in a DI Tata Yodha bearing Manipur registration number are still not yet clear.

The arrested persons have been handed over to the Custom Preventive Force of Moreh along with the seized items.