As the Lok Sabha elections approach, law enforcement agencies are ramping up efforts to maintain public order and uphold the law. In a recent series of operations, excise officials have successfully dismantled illicit liquor operations across various regions, with six significant seizures reported in Goa this week alone.
The vigilance of Konkan Railway police led to the seizure of liquor valued at approximately Rs 15,945 at Margao railway station on Monday. Two individuals, Suraj from Rampur-Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and Laxman Dangui from Nepal, residing in Aquem-Margao, were apprehended in connection with the illicit activity.
Ponda police intercepted a vehicle travelling from Shantinagar-Ponda to Bethora on Tuesday, seizing 275 litres of alcohol worth Rs 50,000. The driver, Devidas Gaonkar, was promptly handed over to excise officials for further investigation.
In a joint operation, the Crime Branch arrested three individuals from Maharashtra and Goa at Chorla Ghat on Wednesday for allegedly smuggling liquor into Karnataka. The seizure included 1,500 illegal liquor boxes, amounting to 72,000 bottles, with an estimated value of Rs 36 lakh. The investigation revealed the procurement of liquor from a Pepsi godown in Margao, destined for Bellary, Karnataka. Officers at the Mollem excise check post arrested the driver of a pickup for illegally transporting liquor concealed under the tarpaulin and speaker box of a pickup.
Thursday saw the Excise Station in Quepem raiding an illegal restaurant in Balli, seizing a substantial quantity of various branded liquors valued at Rs 17,500, along with 37.040 bulk litres of illicit alcohol. Similarly, in Mormugao, another illegal liquor operation was dismantled at a restaurant in Chicolna Bogmalo, resulting in the seizure of various branded liquors worth Rs 38,002, totalling 64.570 bulk litres.
Meanwhile, in Mysuru, a joint team from the Joint Commissioner of Excise raided a beer manufacturing unit in the Tandya Industrial Area, seizing equipment and raw materials worth Rs 98.52 crore. Shockingly, discrepancies in inventory revealed illegal production exceeding reported amounts, leading to the registration of a case against 17 individuals involved in the unlawful manufacturing and distribution of alcohol.
With concerns rising over the influx of Goa liquor in Belagavi ahead of the elections, district authorities have intensified vigilance at checkposts near Kankumbi, Peeranwadi, Shinoli, and other border locations. Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil, Police Commissioner Ieda Martin Marboning, and other senior officials personally inspected vehicles for illicit liquor and unaccounted cash, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring amid the Model Code of Conduct. They instructed officers to wear identification badges, maintain thorough vehicle inspection records, and uphold courteous conduct while ensuring safety during inspections.
