As Christmas and New Year festivities approach, authorities in Patna are cracking down on a surge in illicit liquor activities, intercepting a major river smuggling attempt and dismantling a sophisticated counterfeit liquor operation in separate incidents.
Late-Night River Interception on the Ganga
Acting on specific intelligence, a police team from the Digha police station area launched a daring late-night operation on Sunday. The tip-off suggested that a large consignment of illegal liquor was being transported into the city via the Ganga river. The officers, equipped with life jackets, took up positions in the diara area and waited patiently along the riverbank.
Their vigilance paid off when they spotted a generator-powered boat. As the police moved in to intercept the vessel, which was carrying 15 sacks of country-made liquor, the smugglers aboard made a desperate escape. Abandoning their boat and consignment, they leapt into the dark waters of the Ganga and vanished into the night.
Digha TOP incharge Shamshad Ahmed confirmed that the entire liquor consignment was successfully recovered from the abandoned boat. He stated that the police had verified the intelligence inputs before setting up the operation, and the smugglers chose to flee at the last moment to avoid arrest.
Busting a Counterfeit Liquor Factory in Jagdamba Colony
In a parallel crackdown, the state prohibition department raided a large-scale fake foreign liquor manufacturing unit operating in Jagdamba Colony at Khemnichak, under the Ramakrishna Nagar police station. The raid, led by Inspector Ajit Kumar, was conducted based on prior intelligence.
Officials discovered rooms cleverly disguised as lodges that were, in reality, a fully functional illicit distillery. Inside, they found a well-organized setup designed to replicate premium alcohol brands. The seized items included:
- Approximately 60 litres of prepared counterfeit liquor and 53 litres of spirit.
- Various chemicals used in production, around 4 litres in quantity.
- Empty bottles, caps, wrappers, fake QR codes, and brand stickers.
- Packing machines and a hydrometer used to mimic the alcohol content of genuine premium brands.
Inspector Ajit Kumar noted that the racket had mastered replicating the packaging of renowned brands to deceive consumers. While all the accused managed to flee before the raid, the production equipment and materials were confiscated.
Festive Season Crackdown Intensifies
These twin operations highlight the intensified efforts by Patna police and the prohibition department to curb the illegal liquor trade as demand typically rises during the year-end celebration period. The use of river routes for smuggling and the establishment of hidden factories indicate the evolving tactics employed by bootleggers in Bihar, where prohibition is in force.
The successful interception on the Ganga and the factory bust serve as a stern warning, demonstrating the authorities' alertness and commitment to enforcing the liquor ban. Investigations into both cases are ongoing to apprehend the absconding suspects.
