Director James Commends Cooperative
Effort to Shutdown Moonshine Operation
JEFFERSON CITY, August 11, 2006-Director of Public Safety
Mark James commended the joint federal, state and local efforts to
halt an illegal whiskey operation in South Missouri.
“This enforcement operation exemplifies the close
relationship among law enforcement agencies on all levels under the
current administration. I commend the groups for collaborating resources
to successfully bring down an operation that had potential to risk
serious safety, economical and health damages to Missourians,”
James said.
Agencies participating in the operation were the of
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) the
Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC), the South Central Drug
Task Force, which includes members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol,
and the Howell County Sheriff. Officials say it was the largest moonshine
operation in Missouri in the last 30 years and believe the untaxed
distilled spirits have been distributed throughout the south central
region of the state.
Individuals prosecuted for these illegal operations
risk federal prison time and hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties.
Moonshining is defined as the making of whiskey surreptitiously
and illegally. The name came about because the activity of distilling
whiskey unlawfully was usually done at night under the light of the
moon.