Photo Source: Babushahi Network
Zirakpur police and Excise Dept bust international beer smuggling racket
Big haul of smuggled BIO Brand liquor without holograms unearthed by Excise Department Punjab and District Police Mohali
Mohali, September 30, 2021:
In a joint operation of Excise department Punjab and District Police Mohali, an organized module of liquor smugglers was busted in District Mohali.
As per the police, the gang was involved in illegally smuggling various imported liquor and beer brands into the State of Punjab.
Giving the details, Naresh Dubey Jt. Excise Commissioner, Punjab informed that Excise department Punjab and Punjab Police has once again tightened the noose on persons involved in smuggling of liquor. Secret information was received that few persons are involved in smuggling BIO brands and imported liquor in the state of Punjab evading the Excise duties and Levies, which caused huge loss to state exchequer. Acting on the tip, the joint teams of Excise department and District police Mohali were formed under Bikramjeet Brar D.S.P and Sarupinder singh, Excise officer Enforcement which swung into action immediately and started collecting information and recce of the suspected persons involved in the trade.
It came to notice that the accused used to smuggle imported liquor and beer brands into the state of Punjab from Delhi, Noida and other states and used to store it in their illegal godowns in Lalru and Khizrabad area of District S.A.S. Nagar
On the intervening night of 29/30 September, 2021 the teams got the tip that the gang is coming towards Zirakpur area with the consignment of illegal liquor in the Mahindra pick up no CH01TB0703 and the said pick up is being escorted by Vishavjeet singh in a Mahindra Scorpio. The teams got success when the said vehicles were located near Zirakpur and naka was put up where both the vehicles were successfully apprehended along with two accused. On checking the pickup was found laden with 201 cases of imported liquor for which the accused could not produce any valid documents.
An FIR under Sections 61-1-14,420,468,120-B of the IPC has been registered at the Zirakpur police station.
During the investigation, the accused disclosed that they used to import the liquor and beer from their associates in Spain and Romania and further distribute this liquor and beer in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana and Karnataka.
Further disclosure of the accused led to heavy recovery of 1400 cases of illegally smuggled liquor brands such as Senior Boke and Moller which were illegally hidden in their various hideouts/godowns at Lalru and Khizrabad area in Mohali.
Rajat Agarwal, IAS, Excise Commissioner, Punjab reiterated that the Government has zero tolerance policy as far as smuggling of liquor or any illegal activity relating to Excise is concerned and nobody would be spared and action would be taken as per law. Entire chain of forward and backward linkages leading to disclosure of the main suppliers and recipients of smuggled liquor is being pursued expeditiously during the investigation. If any liquor contractor is involved in this racket, strict action under law would be initiated against him. He further reiterated that Punjab Police and Excise department are working in close coordination with each other under “Operation Red Rose”. Under Operation Red Rose, for the period from 17.5.2020 to 31.8.2021, 18826 FIRs have been registered in which 18638 persons have been arrested, 2,27,676 litres illicit liquor, 7,36,173 litres licit liquor ,2154740 kgs of lahan ,866 working stills have been detected.