An Excise team seized 900 litres of spirit from a coconut plantation at Ambittampathy, Kozhinjampara, in the district on Tuesday.
The spirit in 25 cans was found hidden in a large pit and behind a cowshed. The spirit was found to have been stored for mixing with toddy.
The Excise team arrested Prabhu, a Tamilian who was in charge of the plantation. He reportedly admitted that the spirit belonged to Kannan, a CPI(M) local leader from Ottakkada. Prabhu reportedly told the Excise team that he was given ₹250 for storing a can. He also said that Kannan’s worker Biju used to carry the spirit from the plantation as per the requirement.