Deputies find moonshine while looking for murder suspect | Crime

Orangeburg County sheriff's deputies made an unexpected discovery Friday while searching for a murder suspect.

Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said deputies found an illegal liquor distillery was located in a wooded area of Jaques Lane. Ravenell said deputies seized over 30 barrels of mash, 9 cookers, a water pump, 5 propane tanks used for the cooking process, and over 45 gallons of illegal liquor from the property.

The estimated street value of the finished product found is $2,000.00, but the distillery was capable of manufacturing over $10,000.00 worth of illegal liquor at one time, investigators said.

"We appreciate the assistance of Highway Patrol, SLED and DNR in the investigation and destruction of the distillery," said Ravenell.

Arrests are pending.