Police Seize $45,000 Worth of Smuggled Liquor in Recent Crackdown on Bootleg Booze
Police in India are cracking down on bootleg liquor, resulting in approximately 33,600 bottles of illicit booze being seized. (Photo: Unsplash)
The Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB) in the Indian city of Vadodara is intensifying its efforts to dismantle the illegal liquor trade orchestrated by a group identified as the “Bishnoi gang,” the Times of India reported on Monday.
A substantial operation unfolded recently as the PCB intercepted and confiscated a substantial cache of illicit liquor valued at Rs 38 lakh (approximately $45,736). The seized haul, a collection of 33,600 bottles, was discreetly stashed within a shipping container driving on the national highway, per the Times of India.
This marks another success in the PCB’s ongoing eight-month campaign against the Bishnoi gang, resulting in the confiscation of over Rs 1.2 crore (about $144,429) worth of smuggled liquor and the apprehending of six individuals connected to the group, the outlet reported.
According to the Times of India, the Bishnoi gang’s tactics involve concealing contraband within large containers, a method that has reportedly evolved to counter law enforcement efforts. The decentralized distribution network, wherein non-local drivers transport containers directly to primary bootleggers, poses a unique challenge for effective surveillance and intervention, authorities informed the news outlet.
Inspector S. D. Radada, heading the PCB, attributed the recent success to actionable intelligence concerning the movement of vehicles ferrying the bootleg liquor.
“Also, we understand their modus operandi and are able to detect the liquor boxes they hide in the vehicles,” Radada said in the report. “Our teams have made a major dent in their illicit business this year.”
In regions of India where alcohol is prohibited, a black market for bootleg liquor, which is continually found to be laced with dangerous ingredients, thrives. The persistent demand for affordable, locally produced alcohol persists despite official crackdowns, leading to tragic consequences for consumers. In April, at least 27 individuals were reported dead after consuming toxic bootleg liquor in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, where alcohol is prohibited.
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