The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth nearly ₹69 lakh in two separate prohibition raids conducted in Valsad and Mehsana districts on 11 July, booking a total of 14 accused and recovering liquor and other property collectively valued at over ₹1.09 crore, according to officials.

Key Developments

The operations were carried out under instructions from Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik, who had directed enforcement agencies to intensify action against illegal liquor and gambling networks across the state. Both raids were executed by SMC teams operating in different districts simultaneously.

The Valsad Raid

Police Inspector B.P. Desai and his team intercepted a four-wheeler near Kundi Bridge on National Highway 48, within the jurisdiction of Dungri Police Station in Valsad district. Officers recovered approximately 87 cartons containing 3,025 bottles of Indian-made beer valued at ₹9,26,051. Including the vehicle and other seized property, the total value of the recovered muddamal stood at ₹19,36,051.

Two persons were arrested: Ilesh alias Iliyo Patel, a resident of Kocharwa in Vapi taluka, who was allegedly driving the vehicle, and Kapil alias Sonu Patel of Motiwada in Pardi taluka, who was accompanying him as a cleaner. A prohibition offence was registered at Dungri Police Station under Sections 65(A)(E), 81, 83, 98(2) and 116(B) of the Gujarat Prohibition Act. Police have additionally named four wanted accused, including alleged supplier Ankur Rani and associates linked to ordering the consignment.

The Mehsana Raid

Police Inspector A.J. Chauhan of the SMC intercepted a vehicle near Ramdev Hotel on Kalyanpur Road, close to Vidaj village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district. Officers recovered approximately 1,077 cartons containing 25,858 bottles of Indian-made beer worth ₹59,73,198. The total value of seized liquor and property was estimated at ₹89,95,198.

One person was arrested: Hemaram Jat of Dheerasar village in Barmer district, Rajasthan, who was allegedly driving the vehicle. A case was registered at Kadi Police Station under the same sections of the Gujarat Prohibition Act against eight accused, of whom seven remain wanted. Among those named are Vijay Jat of Taratra village in Barmer, who allegedly connected the driver to the main accused's network, and Ramesh Likharam Jat of Chandi village in Barmer, identified by police as the principal accused responsible for dispatching the consignment.

Investigation and Wider Network

The SMC confirmed that both cases are registered and investigation is ongoing to trace the remaining accused. Notably, the Mehsana seizure points to a Rajasthan-based supply chain, with multiple Barmer-district residents named as key operatives — suggesting cross-state liquor trafficking networks are actively exploiting Gujarat's prohibition regime. Police are searching for five additional accused allegedly linked to procurement and transportation.

The twin raids mark a continued push by the Gujarat Police to dismantle organised liquor supply networks operating under the state's decades-old prohibition law. Further arrests are expected as investigators map the broader chain.