FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dean
R. Argo
(334) 213-6330
ABC
Agents Find Moonshine in Barbour County,
Marijuana in Clarke County
Agents of the
Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board this week discovered and destroyed two separate
illegal moonshine stills near Eufaula in Barbour County and a number of
marijuana plants near the Alabama River in rural Clarke County.
ABC Agents assigned to the Moonshine
Task Force located the stills hidden in a wooded location along Rocky Mount
Church Road, about ten miles northeast of Eufaula. Agents, acting on tips from area residents, found the first
still Wednesday afternoon. The cooker was empty, but agents believe the still
was operational and ready to be used. The second still was found along the same
stretch of road about a half-mile away from the first still. Agents recovered a
cooker and three large buckets containing about 15 gallons of moonshine. Several empty sugar bags were also found.
Even though no 55-gallon barrels were on site, the smaller cookers are
considered a “four-barrel” still, capable of producing 28 to 30 gallons of
moonshine every three to five days.
Earlier in the week, Moonshine Task
Force members found and destroyed 16 marijuana plants in a wooded area near the
Chance Community in Clarke County. While investigating a tip about a possible
still location, agents found the pot growing among pine trees and bushes.
Although no arrests were made at either
location in Barbour County or in Clarke County, agents have identified several suspects and are continuing their
investigation.
The agents are
part of the ABC Board’s Moonshine Task Force that investigates tips, develops
leads, and are skilled in tracking and following trails that are often
associated with this type of illegal operation. Anyone with any information about these or
any other illegal activities 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.
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