Chhota Udepur, located at the Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh borders, has become a key route for bootleggers smuggling liquor into Gujarat. In response, the district police have intensified operations, intercepting multiple consignments. In the latest crackdown, the Chhota Udepur crime branch, during a routine patrol, received intelligence about a Tata mini truck carrying illicit Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) concealed under rice sacks.

The police set up a checkpoint near Rangpur Naka and intercepted the truck, bearing registration number GJ-09-Y-5307. Upon thorough inspection, they discovered liquor worth ₹13.77 lakh hidden beneath the rice bags. The total seized material, including the vehicle, amounted to ₹20.83 lakh. A case has been registered, and further investigations are underway. 

According to District Police Chief Imtiaz Sheikh, the crime branch has successfully executed five major liquor seizures recently.

These include ₹4.25 lakh worth of liquor hidden in vegetable consignments from Modasar Crossroad, Bodeli; ₹11.70 lakh worth of liquor concealed under sand in Dhamodi; ₹3.91 lakh worth of liquor smuggled inside dolomite powder near Rangpur Naka; and another ₹7.49 lakh worth of liquor disguised under vegetable loads. In total, law enforcement has confiscated illicit liquor and materials worth ₹41.13 lakh, leading to the arrest of seven suspects. 

The accused have been booked under relevant laws and remanded in custody as authorities continue their stringent crackdown on illegal liquor smuggling in the region. Despite Gujarat's prohibition policy since 1948, the state continues to grapple with significant illicit liquor activities.

Liquor Seizures in Gujarat

In 2021, authorities seized an average of 11 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) every minute, totalling 57.12 lakh bottles valued at ₹122 crore. This marked an increase from 2020, which saw 45.15 lakh bottles worth ₹114 crore confiscated. The number of prohibition cases also rose from 1.53 lakh in 2020 to 1.69 lakh in 2021, with approximately 1.67 lakh individuals arrested for bootlegging in 2021. 

In the first half of 2024, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) conducted 180 successful raids across Gujarat, seizing illicit liquor worth ₹11.5 crore and other illegal goods valued at ₹26 crore. Ahmedabad led with 17 liquor cases, followed by Surat with 13, Vadodara with five, and Rajkot reporting none. 

Which city in Gujarat has had the highest amount of liquor seized?

Notably, Ahmedabad maintained the highest number of illegal liquor cases among the state's four police commissionerates.

Between January 2021 and December 2022, Gujarat’s law enforcement agencies seized narcotic drugs worth  ₹4,058.01 crore and liquor valued at ₹211.86 crore. Vadodara district topped the list with seizures totalling Rs 1,620.7 crores, followed by Bharuch at ₹1,389.91 crore, and Kutch at ₹1,040.57 crore. 

During this period, over 3 lakh individuals were arrested for liquor and drug-related offences, with approximately 37 lakh bottles of liquor confiscated.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)

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