Vadodara, March 6 (IANS) Gujarat State Monitoring Cell conducted a raid in the jurisdiction of Manjusar Police Station, Vadodara district, leading to the seizure of a large consignment of illegal foreign liquor valued at Rs 65.18 lakh.
During the operation, two individuals were arrested, while four others have been declared wanted. The State Monitoring Cell has previously carried out multiple operations against illegal liquor trade and gambling in Vadodara city and rural areas, often exposing local police inaction.
Acting on a tip-off, officials raided the parking area of a private complex in Manjusar village, where they discovered a truck loaded with liquor cartons.
Upon inspection, a massive consignment of foreign liquor valued at Rs 44 lakh was found inside the vehicle. Along with the seized liquor, authorities also confiscated a truck, mobile phones, and cash, bringing the total value of the confiscated items to Rs 65.18 lakh.
Two individuals, identified as Shuklal Dipalalji Dangi (32) and Dolatram Hariram Dangi (43), both residents of Udaipur, Rajasthan, were arrested.
Meanwhile, four individuals, including the main accused, Shailesh Singh (a supplier from Goa), a partner in the operation, and truck owner Takht Singh (from Udaipur, Rajasthan), have been declared wanted.
The authorities are continuing their investigation to trace and apprehend the remaining accused, while further actions against illicit liquor smuggling networks in the region are expected. Gujarat, a dry state under the Prohibition Act, has witnessed frequent crackdowns on illegal liquor smuggling.
Over the past few years, law enforcement agencies, including the State Monitoring Cell, local police, and the Crime Branch, have conducted multiple raids, seizing large quantities of foreign and country-made liquor.
In 2023 alone, authorities seized illegal liquor worth over Rs 200 crore across the state, with major busts occurring in districts like Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.
Smugglers often use highways, coastal routes, and even hidden storage facilities in industrial areas to transport liquor from neighboring states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Daman.
–IANS
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