Gujarat: Liquor worth over Rs 14.2 lakh hidden beneath rice husk seized in Valsad, one held

Valsad (Gujarat), July 26 (AHN) The Local Crime Branch (LCB) has seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 14.20 lakh that was allegedly being smuggled from Silvassa to Una after intercepting a pick-up truck in Gujarat’s Valsad district, officials said on Sunday.

The liquor was concealed beneath plastic sacks filled with rice husk in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

The operation was carried out as part of an ongoing drive against prohibition-related offences in the district under the directions of Surat Range Inspector General of Police Prem Veer Singh and Valsad Superintendent of Police Yuvrajsinh Jadeja.

The raid was conducted under the supervision of LCB Police Inspector A.U. Roz.

According to police, LCB personnel led by PSI J.G. Vasava were on prohibition patrol in the district when Assistant Police Constable Tejpalsinh Mahendrasinh received specific intelligence about a vehicle transporting illicit liquor.

"Acting on the information, the team intercepted a brown Tata Tempo near Fair Company on National Highway 48 at Dungri on the Mumbai-Surat road," officials said.

During the search, officers found 100 plastic sacks of rice husk loaded in the vehicle. Beneath the sacks, police recovered 203 boxes containing Indian Made Foreign Liquor, including whisky, vodka and beer.

The consignment comprised 8,940 bottles and cans with a total volume of 1,809.360 litres, valued at Rs 14,20,944.

Police also seized the vehicle, valued at Rs 8 lakh, the rice husk sacks worth Rs 31,500 and a mobile phone worth Rs 5,000 recovered during the personal search of the driver.

The total value of the seized property was estimated at Rs 22,57,444. The driver, identified as Himmat Solanki (38) and a resident of Moti Fafni village in Kodinar taluka of Gir Somnath district, was arrested at the scene.

Police have also named two wanted accused in the case. One is identified only as Manubhai, a resident of Una in Gir Somnath district, who is alleged to have arranged the transportation and procurement of the liquor consignment.

The second is an unidentified associate of Manubhai who allegedly provided the vehicle used for transporting the consignment.

Assistant Police Constable Tejpalsinh Mahendrasinh lodged a complaint at Dungri Police Station under the relevant provisions of the Gujarat prohibition law.

The seized property and the arrested accused have been handed over to Dungri Police Station, which is carrying out further investigation into the case.