Major Alcohol Bust in Uttara Kannada: 50,000 Liters of ENA Seized in Pre-Dawn Raid
In a significant crackdown, excise officials in Uttara Kannada district conducted a pre-dawn operation resulting in the seizure of two tanker trucks carrying 50,000 liters of extra neutral alcohol (ENA). The consignment was allegedly transported using forged documents, marking one of the department's largest seizures in recent years.
Intelligence-Led Operation Uncovers Elaborate Scheme
KL Nagesh, joint commissioner (enforcement and investigation) of the excise department's Mangaluru division, revealed that the raid was executed based on specific intelligence inputs. Acting under the guidance of Amanullah Khan, deputy commissioner of excise for Uttara Kannada district, officers intercepted the vehicles near the Ramanagar toll gate in Joida taluk along the Dharwad–Goa national highway.
Both consignments were fraudulently documented as destined for non-existent companies in Goa, highlighting an elaborate attempt to bypass regulatory scrutiny.
Detailed Breakdown of the Intercepted Tankers
The operation targeted two separate tankers, each with fabricated paperwork:
- The first tanker was allegedly transporting 30,000 liters of denatured rectified spirit (non-potable) from Davangere Sugar Company Limited to Global Chem Corp in Kundem, Goa. Officials immediately suspected the accompanying documents were counterfeit.
- The second tanker was intercepted while allegedly carrying 20,000 liters of ethanol (non-potable) from Sai Traders & Company in Davangere to Vardhan Supplements India Pvt Ltd in Perne Industrial Estate, Goa. Here too, the transport documents appeared to be fabricated.
Scientific Verification and Arrests
To confirm the nature of the liquids, a chemist from a primary distillery was summoned to the scene. Using an alcometer, he tested the contents of both tankers and determined they contained ENA, not the substances listed in the paperwork. This verification led to the immediate seizure of both tankers and the 50,000 liters of ENA.
The drivers, identified as Magler Singh from TP Nagar, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and Dharmappa Kalakappa Kattimani from Bombay MDTS, Rona taluk, Gadag, were arrested and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
Legal Proceedings and Estimated Value
Separate cases have been registered by the excise sub-division in Yellapur and the excise inspector of the Dandeli range. Officials estimated the value of the seized ENA at approximately Rs 40 lakh, while the two tankers were valued at around Rs 50 lakh, bringing the total seizure to an impressive Rs 90 lakh.
The excise department has emphasized that further investigation is ongoing to uncover the larger network behind the alleged misuse of documents and illegal transport of industrial alcohol. This operation underscores the department's commitment to combating illicit activities in the region.
