MARGAO
Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has strongly exposed the massive and organised smuggling of Goa’s liquor into Maharashtra, calling it the “biggest ongoing smuggling operation in Goa today, openly protected by those in power.”
Sardesai stated that since June, the Maharashtra government increased duty and taxes on IMFL to nearly 88 per cent, creating a huge price difference between Goa and Maharashtra. “This difference has now become a gold mine for smugglers. And this racket is not small, it is politically protected and coordinated,” he said.
Sardesai reminded that he had raised this issue in the Goa Legislative Assembly, revealing that at border checkposts, people could smuggle liquor simply by saying ‘Jai Mata Di’ and move through without inspection. “This happened while the Assembly was in session, and even then, action was not taken,” he said.
He further highlighted that a special route from Latambarcem has been created solely to transport smuggled liquor into Maharashtra. “This is not just smuggling, it is an organised business. A business of the ruling party,” Sardesai stated. “When I exposed this in the Assembly, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant admitted it and promised to set up a check post. Till today, that check post has not been set up,” Sardesai revealed.
He added: “Whatever little seizures you see in newspapers are only for show. The real network runs deep, protected, supported, and encouraged. What you see is only the tip of the iceberg,” he added.
Sardesai said that this racket not only loots Goa’s revenue but also destroys the rule of law, and proves how the government is serving private business interests instead of public interest.
