THE GOAN NETWORK
PERNEM
Pernem excise officials seized 600 boxes of liquor valued at Rs 51 lakh from a vehicle at the border check post at Patradevi in the wee hours of Friday.
According to reports, the incident took place as a Maharashtra-registered truck was proceeding from Goa towards Maharashtra.
The vehicle was stopped for a routine check at about 2 am and the driver claimed he was transporting a cargo of onions. When excise officials inspected the cargo, they found 600 boxes of liquor hidden below the onions. They then notified their officials about the matter.
The excise team seized the truck and the 600 boxes of liquor, valued at Rs 51 lakh, while the driver managed to flee from the site.
Official investigations are underway to ascertain if necessary transport documentation existed, details regarding the liquor's origin and intended destination within Maharashtra, and if others were involved in this liquor smuggling operation.
There have been regular instances of illegal transportation of liquor via the Patradevi route on the Goa-Maharashtra border, underscoring the renewed need for stricter inspections in the border regions.
Authorities face a significant challenge in meticulously inspecting vehicles, particularly when attempts are made to smuggle liquor by concealing it with other cargo.
