Hyderabad: Teams from the Excise and Prohibition department during special drives on Wednesday seized 17 tonnes of black jaggery and two tonnes of Navasagar (mixture of ammonium sulfide and ammonium chloride) from Begum Bazaar.

Assistant excise superintendent N. Anji Reddy said that credible information suggested that the black jaggery storage was to be supplied to illicit liquor makers. The excise teams conducted raids at shops in Begum Bazaar and Shamsheergunj. “One Harikishan Karwa was supplying the black jaggery and Navasagar to illicit liquor makers in Dhoolpet and surrounding areas. After taking search warrant from 1st ACMM Court, we conducted the raids,” he said.

Mr Reddy said that the special teams seized 17,910 kg of black jaggery, 2,276 kg of Navasagar in three different versions (bricks and pellets), 3,700 kg of ammonium chloride, 5,200 kg of ammonium sulphates and 450 kg of alum.

“We have arrested Harikishan Sharma, an associate of Harikishan Karwa. We deputed teams to nab the prime accused persons in this case Harikishan Karwa and Ghansham Karwa,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner of Excise C. Vivekananda Reddy and Hyderabad excise superintendent Mr Jyothi Kiran visited the spot.

The special teams seized 17,910 kg of black jaggery, 2,276 kg of Navasagar, 3,700 kg of ammonium chloride, 5,200 kg of ammonium sulphates and 450 kg of alum. The commodities were to be supplied to illicit liquor makres in Dhoolpet and surrounding areas. One associate arrested while efforts are on to nab the prime accused in the supply chain.