The state excise department in Bhiwandi has dismantled an interstate liquor smuggling operation, seizing a consignment of Goa-marked liquor valued at nearly Rs 1.90 crore. The illicit cargo was being transported illegally to Udaipur in Rajasthan via Maharashtra.
Tip-Off Leads to Interception
Acting on a specific tip-off, officials from the Bhiwandi excise department team intercepted a six-wheeler container truck on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway near Vadpe village in Bhiwandi, Thane district, on Wednesday. The vehicle, bearing registration number HR-61 F-1508, was stopped and searched by the excise flying squad.
Electronic Goods Cover Story
According to officials, the truck was ostensibly carrying electronic goods from Goa to Udaipur. However, a detailed inspection of the sealed container in the presence of panch witnesses revealed a large stock of foreign liquor meant exclusively for sale in Goa.
Seizure Details
The excise department seized 1,620 boxes of sealed liquor bottles valued at Rs 1.63 crore. Additionally, the container truck worth Rs 27 lakh and a mobile phone were confiscated, bringing the total value of the seized property to Rs 1.90 crore.
Illegal Transport Without Permits
Investigators stated that the liquor was being transported illegally from Goa to Rajasthan without the required permits and in violation of state excise regulations. The seizure is viewed as a major blow to an interstate liquor smuggling network operating across western India.
Driver Arrested
The truck driver, identified as Hanuman Molata Ram (28), a resident of Rajasthan, has been booked under relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. Officials are now probing the supply chain to identify the consignors, receivers, and other individuals involved in the racket.
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