Officer busts driver caught with over 80 gallons of moonshine during traffic stop, authorities say

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY/Gray News) - Alabama police made a surprise discovery earlier this month when they seized nearly seven dozen gallons of moonshine during a routine traffic stop.

According to the Ozark Criminal Investigations Bureau, Ozark Police Officer Dylan Griffin pulled over 61-year-old Learndis Hamilton for a traffic violation on Jan. 9.

While speaking with Hamilton, Griffin said he noticed multiple containers in plain sight inside the vehicle, prompting a deeper investigation, which uncovered over 81 gallons of illegally distilled moonshine.

Hamilton was traveling through the Alabama area from Florida, with his final destination not made clear to police.

Authorities said he would have likely sold the large amount of illegal alcohol wherever he ended up. The moonshine possessed by Hamilton was a violation of Alabama law due to the quantity.

Hamilton was arrested at the scene and the investigation has since been turned over to the Alabama Beverage Control Board.

The 61-year-old was booked into the Dale County Jail.