Pune, May 26: The Pune State Excise Department’s flying squad has made a significant crackdown on illegal alcohol trafficking, seizing foreign liquor and beer valued at approximately ₹2 crore and 3 lakh. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 1,716 boxes of alcohol and two six-wheeler containers.
According to departmental officials, this action was conducted under the directives of State Excise Commissioner Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner Prasad Surve, and Pune Division Deputy Commissioner Sagar Dhomkar.
Guided by Sub-Inspector Aniruddha Patil, the flying squad raided the Shikrapur area in Shirur taluka of Pune district on May 20. During the operation, the team first discovered goods that were permitted for sale in Goa.
Initial inquiries revealed that the goods were transported in an Ashok Leyland six-wheeler container with a Karnataka registration. The team promptly began searching for the truck, which was later found parked near the Lading Toll Naka on the Mumbai-Agra Highway in Dhule district.
With the assistance of the Dhule Excise Department, both the vehicle and the driver were detained. A thorough inspection of the container led to shocking discoveries. It contained 500 ml cans of beer manufactured in Karnataka, which are only allowed to be sold in Goa. Additionally, sealed bottles of Goa whiskey (750 ml) produced in Madhya Pradesh were also recovered, which are only valid for sale in Madhya Pradesh. Transporting and selling these products in Maharashtra is entirely illegal.
Officials seized a total of 696 boxes of alcohol, amounting to approximately ₹81 lakh and 27 thousand 600. A case has been registered under various sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act of 1949, and the container driver has been arrested.
Sources from the State Excise Department indicated that traffickers were attempting to exploit interstate borders to supply legally produced alcohol from various states illegally into Maharashtra.
Such smuggling tends to increase, especially during festival and wedding seasons. This successful operation has sent shockwaves through the ranks of illegal alcohol traffickers.
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