Pune: State Excise Department Cracks Down on Liquor Smuggling; Goods Worth Rs 1.2 Crore Seized in Two Separate Operations
Pune:
In a significant crackdown, the State Excise Department seized illicit liquor and vehicles worth Rs 1.2 crore in two separate operations in the state. The raids led to the arrest of nine individuals and the confiscation of 1,668 bottles of foreign liquor along with five vehicles.
The first operation was carried out amidst New Year celebrations in Saswad. While patrolling, the Saswad team of the Excise Department intercepted a suspicious vehicle and discovered three boxes of counterfeit Goan liquor. Acting on information obtained during interrogation, the team raided a shed in Nasrapur where counterfeit liquor was being unloaded from a truck.
Upon inspection, the officers found coal powder used for brick kilns and boxes of counterfeit liquor from Goa stored in thermocol boxes. These were disguised as fruit pulp and intended for smuggling to Gujarat and other locations. The raid resulted in the seizure of a six-wheeler Ashok Leyland truck, 1,710 bottles of counterfeit liquor, and other materials worth Rs 51.95 lakh. Four individuals were apprehended during the operation.
This action was taken by the team of Inspector S.S. Barge, Secondary Inspector P.M. Mohite, S.C. Shinde, as well as Sandeep Mandvekar, Jawan Sunil Kudale, Dattatraya Pilavare, Ankush Kamble, Hrithik Kolpe, and Balu Adhav.
In the second operation, conducted at Bhakti Shakti Chowk under the Pavale Bridge in Nigdi, officials intercepted a private bus from Laxmi Queen Travel Company carrying illegal liquor. The stock, worth Rs 68.37 lakh, included 126 bottles of foreign liquor and 24 bottles of Budweiser beer. It was being transported from Goa for distribution near Khadki Station.
The raid resulted in the arrest of five individuals, including the bus driver, and the seizure of two two-wheelers and a six-wheeler bus. The contraband and vehicles were confiscated under the guidance of Divisional Deputy Commissioner Sagar Dhomkar, Superintendent Charan Singh B Rajput, and Deputy Superintendent Santosh Jagdale.
