Was Foreign Liquor Worth Rs 1.19 Crore Seized in Gujarat?

Ahmedabad, July 5 (NationPress) – The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) from Gandhinagar successfully confiscated foreign liquor valued at Rs 1.19 crore during a raid conducted in the Chotila taluka of Surendranagar.

Following a tip-off, the SMC team executed a raid on a farmhouse located near Kherdi village, adjacent to Nagaraj Hotel, where they discovered almost 1,000 boxes containing 8,596 bottles of imported liquor.

In total, the police recovered goods worth Rs 1.26 lakh, which included the liquor shipment and a pickup vehicle believed to have been used for transportation.

A legal case has been initiated against 10 individuals, among them Dilip Bavku Dhandhal from Nani Moldi village. Authorities note that some of the accused remain at large, and an extensive investigation is ongoing.

In Gujarat, which enforces a strict prohibition on alcohol, liquor seizures in 2025 have surged alarmingly, exposing a well-established smuggling network despite decades of bans. In the first half of the year alone, authorities have executed several high-profile raids across various districts.

For instance, in Banaskantha, foreign liquor concealed in plastic-wrapped packages worth Rs 17 lakh was seized.

Additionally, smaller but regular raids have occurred, including one that apprehended two men transporting liquor and beer valued at Rs 7.35 lakh, and another operation resulting in over Rs 62,000 of seized alcoholic beverages.

Although complete data for 2025 is still emerging, the trends resemble those of 2024, where Gujarat police confiscated more than 82 lakh bottles of IMFL, totaling Rs 144 crore, averaging nearly one bottle seized every four seconds.

The SMC alone has recorded 455 cases, seizing liquor worth Rs 22.5 crore, with the total value of confiscated property exceeding Rs 52 crore.

Gujarat upholds one of the strictest liquor prohibition laws in India, a policy stemming from Mahatma Gandhi's legacy and enforced under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949.

This law prohibits the manufacture, sale, purchase, consumption, and possession of alcohol statewide.

However, there are exceptions: individuals may apply for a health permit for medical alcohol consumption, typically restricted to those over 40 or with specific health conditions, while tourists can obtain a temporary liquor permit valid for up to a month, exclusively usable at licensed liquor stores in designated cities.

Violations can lead to severe penalties, including hefty fines, imprisonment, and the confiscation of vehicles or properties involved in smuggling.