Kutch, Banaskantha borders flagged as gateway for liquor and drug smuggling

More than a month after the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) seized foreign liquor worth ₹1.28 crore near Kera village in Bhuj, there has been no strict action from the Kutch Range inspector general of police (IGP) or the state police.

Despite multiple seizures in Kutch, the district police and Range IGP have remained largely silent, raising questions about enforcement in a border region increasingly viewed as a gateway for liquor and drugs entering Gujarat.

Alleged protection networks

Local sources allege that the narcotics trade is shielded by certain officials. One administrator is reportedly collecting up to ₹1 crore a day in protection money, allowing bootleggers and traffickers to operate freely.

Every month, liquor and narcotics worth billions of rupees are believed to flow into Gujarat. The share passing through Kutch remains unclear, but suspicions point to organised networks backed by political or administrative patronage.

Case of Kera village bootlegger

On June 22, the SMC raided near Kera village in Bhuj taluka and seized liquor worth ₹1.28 crore. The name of local bootlegger Anoopsinh Rathod surfaced in the case, alongside suspicions of involvement by police administrators. However, no action has been initiated against officials.

Calls for an inquiry from Gandhinagar into the role of Rathod and others, including an administrator named Yadav, have intensified. Observers argue such an investigation would help protect both the image of the police and the government.

Modus operandi of bootleggers

Investigations have revealed that Rajasthan-based bootlegger Anil Pandit has organised a large-scale liquor network spanning Gujarat’s borders. A key tactic involves sending three trucks or tankers with the same registration number across different entry points at the same time, making detection difficult.

Despite the trick being exposed, no systematic attempt has been made by Kutch police to dismantle the network. Sources suggest rogue police personnel have even trained bootleggers in these methods, maintaining contact with them through mobile phones.

Raids but no follow-up action

This year, the SMC has conducted at least half a dozen raids in Kutch, seizing liquor worth crores. Yet the Range IGP has not taken action against local officers.

Police sources allege that district police chiefs and other senior officers are obliged to report to administrator Yadav, who is said to ensure revenue targets for higher officials are met. This, they claim, is why Kutch and Banaskantha have gained notoriety as hubs for liquor, charas, and drug smuggling.

Gaps in border enforcement

While the Border Security Force (BSF) occasionally seizes packets of charas washed ashore along the Kutch coastline, many others are collected and moved inland. The destination of these consignments and the full extent of the network remain unclear.

Despite the seriousness of the issue, no comprehensive investigations have been launched by the Kutch Range police following raids by other agencies.

Concerns over rising addiction

Observers note that under the chief ministerial tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, law and order was considered stricter in border areas. By contrast, the current situation in Kutch and Banaskantha is marked by rising addiction and unchecked trafficking, sparking questions about accountability.

Recent seizures highlight scale

In the past three months, liquor worth ₹1.31 crore in West Kutch and ₹1.43 crore in East Kutch has been seized. Local police actions alone accounted for illicit liquor worth more than ₹2.5 crore during this period, though the actual smuggled volume is believed to be far higher.

With transfers of IGPs and senior officers expected soon, police circles speculate that the state government may initiate reshuffles in response to Kutch and Banaskantha’s growing reputation as Gujarat’s “gateway of narcotics.”