Major Interstate Liquor Smuggling Operation Busted in Firozabad
In a significant late-night operation on Wednesday, law enforcement authorities in Firozabad successfully dismantled a key segment of an interstate liquor smuggling network. The coordinated action resulted in the arrest of two alleged operatives and the seizure of a massive consignment of illegal English liquor valued at approximately Rs 1 crore.
Coordinated Police Action Leads to Arrests
The operation was executed through a joint effort by the Matsena police and the Special Operations Group (SOG), acting on credible intelligence about illicit transportation activities. During a routine vehicle-checking drive, authorities intercepted a suspicious truck on the service road near the Datavali underpass along the busy Agra–Lucknow Expressway.
The arrested individuals have been identified as driver Neer Khan and co-driver Sawai Singh, both residents of Barmer district in Rajasthan. Police took them into custody following the interception and subsequent investigation.
Massive Seizure of Illegal Alcohol
During the search operation, police discovered and confiscated a staggering 810 cartons of illicit English liquor comprising various premium brands. The total volume seized amounted to 7,129.44 litres of prohibited alcohol.
In addition to the liquor consignment, authorities also seized the transport vehicle—a truck bearing irregular number plates—and a mobile phone believed to be used for coordinating smuggling activities. The irregular plates had apparently been installed to evade detection during interstate travel.
Prohibition State Destination Revealed
During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly confessed that the liquor was being transported from Punjab to Bihar, which maintains strict prohibition laws against alcohol consumption and sale. The smugglers reportedly intended to sell the illegal alcohol in Bihar at significantly higher profits, exploiting the demand created by the state's prohibition policy.
"The accused admitted that the liquor was being transported from Punjab to the prohibition state of Bihar for illegal sale at higher profits," confirmed police sources familiar with the investigation.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
A formal case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Excise Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). City Superintendent of Police Ravishankar Prasad stated that further investigations are actively underway to identify and apprehend other members of the extensive smuggling network.
"Our teams are working diligently to uncover the complete network involved in this interstate smuggling operation," SP Prasad emphasized. "We are following multiple leads to identify all individuals connected to this illegal activity."
The successful operation highlights the ongoing challenges authorities face in combating interstate smuggling networks that exploit prohibition policies in certain states for substantial illegal profits. Police officials have indicated that similar coordinated operations will continue to target such criminal enterprises operating across state boundaries.
