A Miami man with a Georgia driver’s license was caught Monday driving with 24 gallons of moonshine disguised as water, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said.
Joe L. Edwards II
At about 10:52 a.m., Joe L. Edwards II, 44, was pulled over on southbound Interstate 75 near Micanopy, according to a police report.
Police searched the vehicle and found a few gallon-sized water bottles in the front seat hidden in a brown bag, according to the report. Police found an additional three boxes of bottles hidden under clothing in the back seat and five boxes of bottles in the trunk.
Edwards told officers the bottles contained alcohol, not drugs, according to the report. Deputies smelled the clear liquid and said it smelled strongly of alcohol.
Each bottle was sealed and had a small label, which was inconsistent with how alcoholic beverages are manufactured, according to the report.
A special agent from the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco confirmed the bottles held moonshine, an unregulated hand-made alcohol, according to the report.
Police arrested Edwards on charges including possession of a gallon or more of moonshine whiskey and moving or concealing beverage with intent to defraud state of tax. Authorities took him to Alachua County Jail, where he remains, as of press time, without bond.
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