In a significant crackdown on illicit liquor operations, the Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB) of Ahmedabad city unearthed and dismantled a clandestine country liquor brewery operating deep within the Sabarmati riverbed. The raid, which took place near the Kotarpur waterworks, led to the registration of a formal complaint under the stringent Prohibition Act by the Sabarmati Riverfront (East) police station on Saturday.
Tip-Off Leads to Secluded Riverbed Raid
The operation was set into motion based on a specific tip-off received by a patrol team. According to the official complaint filed by unarmed head constable Dharmendra Harishchandrasinh of the PCB, the team was conducting rounds in the Naroda-Noblenagar vicinity around 10 am. They received information that two individuals were actively brewing and concealing country liquor within the dense shrubbery on the isolated riverbed.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the police team called for two panch witnesses to ensure procedural integrity. The officers then proceeded towards the specified location on the secluded stretch of the riverbed. From a distance, they spotted a man seated near what appeared to be carefully hidden containers.
Detention, Confession, and a Dramatic Escape
The individual was immediately detained for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the illegal operation. He revealed that he, along with another accomplice, had established multiple makeshift furnaces specifically for distilling country liquor at the site. While this suspect was taken into custody, his associate managed to evade capture and fled from the scene.
The police team employed rubber tubes and aluminium containers to navigate and access the inner, more concealed patches of the riverbed. It was here they discovered the extensive scale of the brewing setup.
Massive Haul of Illicit Brew Seized
The raid resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of materials and illicit liquor. The police confiscated a total of 39 drums from the site. Out of these, 14 drums were filled with approximately 100 litres each of fermented brew, ready for or in the process of distillation.
Several smaller containers were also found. In another section of the hidden brewery, officers uncovered 14 additional drums containing finished illicit liquor. The haul was further amplified by the discovery of two large metal barrels, each with a capacity of 500 litres, indicating the potential for large-scale production. The entire operation underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in curbing the manufacture of illegal alcohol in secluded areas.
The detained individual faces serious charges under the Prohibition Act as investigations continue to trace the escaped suspect and unravel the network behind this riverbed-based illicit brewery.
