Major Liquor Bust on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: Rs 2.06 Crore Consignment Seized
In a significant crackdown on interstate liquor smuggling, the Ankleshwar Rural police executed a major seizure on National Expressway-4 (NE-4), part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway corridor. The operation, conducted on Saturday night, resulted in the confiscation of 33,636 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) with an estimated market value of Rs 2.06 crore.
Operation Details and Arrests
The police action unfolded near the Pungaam bridge in Bharuch district, Gujarat. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kushal Oza received credible intelligence about a large-scale liquor consignment scheduled to traverse the expressway. Acting swiftly on this tip-off, a specialized team led by Police Inspector D A Zala from Ankleshwar Rural police station established surveillance along the NE-4 stretch.
During routine checks, authorities intercepted a truck traveling from Surat towards Bharuch. A preliminary inspection revealed the vehicle was ostensibly transporting rice bags. However, upon deeper examination and removal of the sacks, officers uncovered the massive cache of liquor bottles cleverly concealed behind them.
The police immediately seized the entire illicit stock and apprehended two individuals:
- Jesaram Meghwal (31), the driver
- Mukesh Meghwal (28), the cleaner
Both accused are natives of Rajasthan and were taken into custody for further investigation.
Smuggling Route and Modus Operandi
During preliminary interrogation, the arrested duo disclosed critical details about the smuggling operation. They revealed that the liquor-laden truck was handed over to them in Haryana, with instructions to proceed to the Vasad toll plaza in Gujarat. The consignment was allegedly destined for the Saurashtra-Kutch region.
To evade routine highway checks and scrutiny, the perpetrators deliberately avoided conventional routes. Instead, they charted a circuitous path through Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra before entering Gujarat via Tapi district. From there, they accessed the newly operational NE-4 from Surat, exploiting the expressway's limited checkpoints to facilitate undetected transport.
The accused identified a person named Prakash Sharma as the individual who allegedly provided the truck and directed them to utilize NE-4 for the smuggling operation. They were instructed that the final delivery location would be communicated only after reaching the Vasad toll plaza, a strategic transit hub for vehicles heading towards Saurashtra and Kutch.
Investigation and Wider Implications
Police authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to trace the Gujarat-based recipients and unravel the broader liquor smuggling network involved in this operation. Officials noted that driver Jesaram Meghwal has a prior criminal record, having been previously caught in a similar smuggling case in Dahod.
Forensic examination of the seized bottles revealed that the batch and manufacturing details had been deliberately erased, a tactic employed to prevent tracing and obscure the liquor's origin. This marks the first major seizure on National Expressway-4 since its operationalization, highlighting emerging challenges in monitoring high-speed corridors for illicit activities.
The successful interception demonstrates enhanced vigilance by Gujarat police on critical infrastructure projects and underscores ongoing efforts to combat organized smuggling networks exploiting new transportation routes.
