Major Liquor Crackdown in Central Gujarat Nets Over ₹6 Crore in IMFL
In a significant enforcement operation, authorities in central Gujarat have seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth more than ₹6.04 crore within a concentrated nine-day period ending on January 22. The coordinated crackdown spanned five districts and resulted in seven major seizures, highlighting intensified vigilance against illicit liquor trafficking in the region.
Widespread Operations Across Multiple Districts
The enforcement actions were distributed across Dahod, Panchmahal, Anand, Mahisagar, and Vadodara districts. Notably, Dahod district, which shares borders with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, accounted for four of the seven cases, indicating its strategic position as a potential transit route for contraband.
Timeline of Major Seizures
The crackdown commenced on Uttarayan, when the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Dahod district police intercepted an IMFL consignment valued at ₹1.35 crore near Dahod. This shipment, routed through the Khangela outpost, was destined for Godhra. Simultaneously, on the same day, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) confiscated liquor worth ₹45 lakh in Ode village within Anand district.
Following January 14, the series of seizures continued with police forces in Dahod, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, and Vadodara city each executing one significant operation. The value of these confiscated consignments varied from ₹34 lakh to an impressive ₹1.84 crore. In three instances, authorities intercepted liquor while it was being transferred from trucks to smaller vehicles, while the remaining four seizures occurred on highways or at strategically placed check posts during transit.
Enhanced Surveillance and Intelligence Gathering
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rajendra Asari of the Panchmahal–Godhra range emphasized that these recoveries resulted from heightened vigilance at border check posts. "Check posts have been maintained under tight surveillance and are now equipped with CCTV cameras. This technological enhancement has facilitated the detection of not only liquor consignments but also other contraband such as marijuana and poppy straw," he explained.
Asari attributed the recent surge in seizures to increased alertness ahead of New Year celebrations and Uttarayan festivities. He further noted that timely intelligence inputs from informers played a crucial role in the success of these operations, enabling authorities to act swiftly and decisively.
Officials Surprised by Scale and Frequency
Sources revealed that the scale and frequency of the seizures surprised even the officials involved in the operations. "We are also trying to understand what triggered this sudden surge," an official commented. Another officer suggested that, apart from improved policing measures, bootleggers might have attempted to push larger quantities of liquor to compensate for losses incurred during the initial seizures, indicating a possible escalation in illicit activities.
This comprehensive crackdown underscores the ongoing efforts by Gujarat enforcement agencies to curb illegal liquor trafficking, leveraging both technological advancements and human intelligence to maintain law and order in the region.
