Sola police seize liquor worth ₹54 lakh hidden beneath rice husks in truck, arrest Rajasthan man

The Sola High Court Police Station has uncovered a major prohibition racket after seizing Indian-made foreign liquor worth more than ₹54 lakh concealed inside a truck loaded with rice husks near Vaishnodevi Circle on SG Highway.

Police said one person from Rajasthan was arrested during the operation, while a large consignment of liquor bottles hidden beneath agricultural material was recovered from the vehicle.

According to officials, the operation was carried out following specific intelligence inputs received by officers attached to Sola High Court Police Station as part of an intensified anti-prohibition drive across Ahmedabad.

Investigators said the police intercepted truck bearing Rajasthan registration number, near the landing end of the Vaishnodevi Bridge opposite Nirma University on SG Highway.

During a search of the vehicle, police discovered that liquor bottles were hidden beneath sacks and loads of rice husk in an attempt to avoid detection.

The arrested accused was identified as Ramaram Laxmanram Chowdhary, 36, a resident of Barmer district in Rajasthan.

Police said they seized 43,296 bottles of Vodka, all packed in 180 ml units. The total value of the liquor seized was estimated at approximately ₹54.12 lakh.

In addition to the liquor consignment, police also seized the truck used for transportation, rice husk material used to conceal the cargo and two mobile phones. The total value of the seized property was estimated at around ₹64.27 lakh.

A prohibition offence has been registered under provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act, including sections related to possession, transportation and illegal trade of liquor.

Police officials said preliminary investigation suggested that the liquor consignment was being smuggled into Gujarat through interstate routes using disguised transport methods to evade police checks.

Investigators are now probing the source of the liquor consignment, its intended destination and whether a larger interstate bootlegging network is involved.

Police said further raids and arrests are likely as part of the ongoing investigation into the smuggling operation.