Ahmedabad: In a major crackdown on illegal liquor transportation, the Sarkhej police on Saturday seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer valued at Rs 76.6 lakh, which were cleverly concealed inside a truck ostensibly carrying ayurvedic products. The seizure took place near Bakrol Circle on SP Ring Road in the early hours of Saturday.
Details of the Seizure
According to police officials, the liquor consignment was allegedly smuggled from Punjab and was being transported towards Maharashtra. The truck had been loaded with cartons of ayurvedic products and flour sacks from Haridwar, which were used to camouflage the illicit cargo.
The FIR, registered by assistant head constable Vikramsinh Jilubha, states that the seizure occurred during a combing and patrolling drive initiated by the Sarkhej police around 5:15 am on Saturday. Acting on a tip-off from the Sarkhej police inspector, a team kept watch near Bakrol Circle along with panch witnesses. The tip-off indicated that a white truck carrying a large quantity of IMFL was moving from Bakrol Circle towards the Dholera Expressway.
Interception and Investigation
Around 5:45 am, the police noticed the suspected truck heading towards Sanathal Circle. The team intercepted the vehicle and checked its registration number, which was found to be registered in Rajasthan. During questioning, the driver identified himself as 38-year-old Vagtaram Beniwal, a resident of Barmer district in Rajasthan. He initially claimed that the truck was transporting ayurvedic products from Haridwar to Mumbai. However, officials grew suspicious as the route mentioned by the driver did not match the truck’s movement.
On checking, police found cartons of ayurvedic goods stacked near the rear of the truck. After removing some boxes, officers allegedly discovered a large cache of liquor and beer hidden inside. The seized stock included various whisky brands along with beer cans, all marked “For Sale in Punjab Only.” Police counted 8,624 bottles and beer cans worth Rs 76.6 lakh.
Additional Recovery
Police also recovered 680 cartons of ayurvedic products and 115 flour sacks worth around Rs 10 lakh, which were allegedly used to hide the liquor consignment. The accused failed to produce any permit for transporting liquor into Gujarat, a prohibition state. Police also seized the truck and the driver’s mobile phone as part of the probe.
Further investigation is underway to trace the supplier and intended recipients of the consignment. The driver has been taken into custody for questioning.
