Gujarat: Seizure of Illicit Liquor Worth Rs 41.13 Lakh
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Synopsis
The Chhota Udepur area in Gujarat has witnessed a significant crackdown on illegal liquor smuggling, with police seizing liquor worth Rs 41.13 lakh. Multiple consignments have been intercepted, and several suspects arrested as authorities intensify efforts to combat bootlegging in a state with a long-standing prohibition policy.
Key Takeaways
- Significant liquor seizures by police in Chhota Udepur.
- Illicit liquor worth Rs 41.13 lakh confiscated.
- Seven suspects arrested for bootlegging.
- Gujarat continues to face challenges with illegal liquor despite prohibition.
- Authorities executed 180 successful raids in early 2024.
Ahmedabad, Feb 20 (NationPress) Chhota Udepur, positioned at the intersection of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as a significant pathway for bootleggers transporting liquor into Gujarat. In a proactive measure, the district police have heightened their operations, successfully intercepting numerous shipments. In the most recent operation, the Chhota Udepur crime branch, while conducting a routine patrol, received actionable intelligence regarding a Tata mini truck concealing illegal Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) under rice sacks.
The police established a checkpoint near Rangpur Naka and halted the truck with registration number GJ-09-Y-5307. Following a comprehensive inspection, they uncovered liquor valued at Rs 13.77 lakh hidden beneath the rice bags. The overall worth of the seized items, including the vehicle, reached Rs 20.83 lakh. A formal case has been initiated, and further inquiries are in progress.
District Police Chief Imtiaz Sheikh reported that the crime branch has effectively executed five significant liquor seizures in recent times.
These operations included Rs 4.25 lakh worth of liquor concealed within vegetable consignments from Modasar Crossroad, Bodeli; Rs 11.70 lakh worth hidden under sand in Dhamodi; Rs 3.91 lakh worth smuggled inside dolomite powder near Rangpur Naka; and another Rs 7.49 lakh worth disguised under vegetable loads. Cumulatively, law enforcement has confiscated illicit liquor and materials valued at Rs 41.13 lakh, leading to the detention of seven suspects.
The accused individuals have been charged under pertinent laws and placed in custody as authorities persist in their rigorous crackdown on illegal liquor trafficking in the area. Despite Gujarat's prohibition policy enacted in 1948, the state continues to face substantial challenges from illicit liquor operations.
In 2021, officials confiscated an average of 11 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) every minute, totaling 57.12 lakh bottles worth Rs 122 crore. This represented an uptick from 2020, which recorded 45.15 lakh bottles valued at Rs 114 crore. The number of prohibition cases also escalated from 1.53 lakh in 2020 to 1.69 lakh in 2021, with approximately 1.67 lakh individuals apprehended for bootlegging in 2021.
In the early months of 2024, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) executed 180 successful raids across Gujarat, seizing illicit liquor worth Rs 11.5 crore and other illegal items valued at Rs 26 crore. Ahmedabad reported the highest number of liquor cases at 17, followed by Surat with 13, Vadodara with five, and Rajkot with none.
Remarkably, Ahmedabad maintained the top position for illegal liquor cases among the state's four police commissionerates.
Between January 2021 and December 2022, Gujarat's law enforcement agencies confiscated narcotic drugs worth Rs 4,058.01 crore and liquor valued at Rs 211.86 crore. Vadodara district led the seizures with a total of Rs 1,620.7 crores, followed closely by Bharuch at Rs 1,389.91 crore, and Kutch at Rs 1,040.57 crore.
During this timeframe, over 3 lakh individuals were arrested for liquor and drug-related offenses, with approximately 37 lakh bottles of liquor confiscated.
