Synopsis
On February 4, the Gujarat State Monitoring Cell intercepted a major illegal liquor operation involving 19,200 bottles worth Rs 36.09 lakh. The liquor was discovered hidden inside a steam boiler in an Eicher tempo at Hazira ferry terminal, leading to the arrest of two suspects and revealing a larger smuggling network.Key Takeaways
- 19,200 bottles of liquor seized.
- Operation led to a total value of Rs 36.09 lakh.
- Suspects were caught during their sixth smuggling attempt.
- Authorities have increased vigilance during elections.
- Significant previous seizures totaling Rs 215 crore.
Surat, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell has successfully intercepted an illegal liquor shipment being smuggled through the Ro-Ro ferry service that connects Hazira (Surat) and Ghogha (Bhavnagar).
During a significant operation, authorities uncovered 19,200 bottles of liquor valued at Rs 19.20 lakh, concealed within a laminated steam boiler inside an Eicher tempo parked at the ferry terminal in Hazira.
According to sources, a team from the State Monitoring Cell, under the direction of PSI V.C. Jadeja, acted on a tip-off and carried out a comprehensive inspection of the tempo located in the ferry parking area.
Upon peeling back the lamination from the steam boiler, officials stumbled upon a substantial quantity of liquor hidden inside. The operation led to the seizure of the liquor, the boiler, the tempo, two mobile phones, and cash, totaling a value of Rs 36.09 lakh. The tempo driver, Hussain Mehboob Nadaf, along with the owner, Hiralal Basha Nadaf, were promptly arrested.
During questioning, the suspects disclosed that the liquor was destined for a contact in Veraval, Gir Somnath, who was to be informed via mobile phone upon arrival. From there, it was anticipated that the liquor would be further transported to Junagadh.
This marked the sixth occasion that the suspects attempted to smuggle liquor through this particular route. Previously, on January 7, the State Monitoring Cell seized liquor valued at Rs 26.63 lakh that was being smuggled from Daman to Junagadh, resulting in the arrest of two individuals involved in their second smuggling attempt.
Between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, authorities confiscated liquor worth approximately Rs 215 crore, averaging nearly Rs 34 lakh per day. This haul included 15.58 crore bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), 34.72 litres of country-made liquor, and 41.23 lakh beer bottles. In the two years leading up to December 2022, Gujarat police, in conjunction with central agencies, seized narcotics and liquor valued at Rs 6,413 crore.
This comprised IMFL worth Rs 197.56 crore, country-made liquor worth Rs 3.99 crore, and beer bottles worth Rs 10.51 crore. During the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, enforcement agencies heightened their efforts, resulting in total seizures amounting to Rs 290.24 crore as of November 29, 2022. This figure is over ten times the Rs 27.21 crore seized during the 2017 elections. The confiscated items included over four lakh liters of liquor valued at Rs 14.88 crore.
