In the largest liquor smuggling operation of its kind in Maharashtra, Palghar police seized illicit liquor and beer worth about ₹22.9 lakh and arrested the driver.
It is part of the police department’s continuous efforts to control the illegal sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the district.
Police officials said the seizure took place at a routine vehicle inspection in Palghar at a strategic checkpoint. Officers discovered a suspicious vehicle and conducted a detailed search after seeing some anomalies.
They found a huge amount of liquor and beer which they could not prove and which they were transporting with no permits and legal documents.
The seized consignment included different brands of liquor and beer, and the total estimated value was ₹22.9 lakh. The vehicle used for transportation was also taken into police custody as part of the investigation.
The driver of the car was immediately arrested for failing to produce the relevant documents authorizing the transportation of the alcohol.
Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and other relevant laws. Now officials are questioning the accused to find out the origin of the consignment and locate the intended destination.
Gujarat Police destroyed seized liquor worth over ₹2.32 crore in Jasdan, Rajkot district. The stock, confiscated in prohibition-related cases, was crushed under official supervision after legal formalities were completed. pic.twitter.com/8cFTgIRVXu
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The liquor was meant to be sold illegally, investigators believe, in areas where the sale and transportation of alcohol are heavily monitored or restricted. The driver also was being investigated to determine if he was operating alone or was a member of a larger interstate smuggling network.
Police and public health officials said illegal liquor smuggling not only leads to huge revenue loss for the government but also poses serious public safety issues.
It is unsafe to drink illegal or counterfeit liquor in general, and consumers’ health is at risk, they said.
Palghar Police have intensified surveillance on major highways and district entry points in recent months in order to prevent illegal activities like liquor smuggling, narcotics trafficking and other forms of organized crime.
Regular vehicle checks and intelligence-based operations have borne fruit in the region.
They want citizens to be prepared to report any suspicious movement of vehicles carrying illegal goods as part of the effort by law enforcement agencies to eradicate smuggling and maintain law and order.
“Public cooperation with them is at the heart of law enforcement in order to prevent smuggling and to provide them with the right information about it,” they said.
The arrested driver has now been taken to a local court and further investigations are now being carried out to find the suppliers, financiers and intended recipients of the seized alcohol. Police are also investigating whether similar consignments have been made in the district using the same route.
They said they would continue to take serious action against those involved in illegal liquor trade and that surprise inspections and enforcement efforts would continue across Maharashtra.
The latest seizure is proof of the state’s desire to tighten the screws on organized smuggling and comply with excise and prohibition laws, they say.
