In a significant crackdown on the illicit liquor trade, the excise department in Dhanbad unearthed a clandestine mini-factory involved in manufacturing spurious alcohol. The raid, conducted on Tuesday, targeted a location in Jeetpur Basti, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Maniyadih police station.
Major Haul of Raw Materials and Finished Products
The operation, executed with support from the Giridih Excise Department, yielded a substantial seizure. Officials confiscated a massive quantity of raw materials and finished illicit products from the illegal setup. The haul included approximately 1,200 litres of spirit and about 175 litres of illegal foreign liquor bearing various brand labels.
Beyond the liquor itself, the raiding team discovered a large cache of packaging materials essential for the counterfeit operation. These items comprised numerous empty bottles, fake stickers, corks, and other paraphernalia used for bottling the spurious alcohol, indicating a well-organized manufacturing process.
Accused Identified and FIR Lodged
District Excise Inspector Kumar Satyendra provided details on the accused and the estimated value of the seizure. He stated that the illegal operation was being run by an individual named Dablu Mandal, who was allegedly colluding with the house owner, Tikaram.
Inspector Satyendra revealed that the total market value of the confiscated liquor and materials is estimated to be around Rs 8 lakh. He also noted that Dablu Mandal has a history, having been booked previously in cases related to illegal liquor manufacturing. Following the raid, a formal First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against both accused, and legal proceedings have been initiated as per the law.
Supply Chain and Intensified Surveillance
Preliminary investigations by the excise department suggest that the illicit liquor produced at this unit was being supplied to nearby hotels. There are also indications that a portion of the contraband was possibly being smuggled into the neighboring state of Bihar.
In response to this bust, the excise department has announced that it has intensified its surveillance network in the region. The aim is to curb such illegal activities and dismantle the networks involved in the production and distribution of spurious alcohol, which poses a serious threat to public health and safety.
