Kamrej Police in Surat today seized liquor worth Rs1 lakh that was being transported in a Tata jeep, hidden in the bags of puffed rice (Mamra). The police have also confiscated Rs6 lakh worth of other goods, which included mobile phones worth Rs 4.5 lakhs. Two accused have been arrested.
The police apprehended the jeep on the road to Pasodara and conducted the search. A total of 492 whiskey and beer bottles were found, hidden within bags of mamra.
Meanwhile, the police are investigating the matter and will be interrogating the two accused. One of the accused is a native of Uttar Pradesh and is currently residing in Navi Mumbai. The other accused is also a native of Mumbai.
Police believe that the two could provide more details regarding liquor that was being smuggled into the state. Most importantly, the police want to know if the two accused transport liquor in this way regularly. They hope to get information about where the liquor was bought from and where it was being transported to. Interrogation may also lead to customers who had ordered the liquor. The sources said that police believe that the arrest of the two accused might lead them to a bigger racket in the state.
Liquor smuggling has become one of the major concerns in Gujarat, after the hooch tragedy that happened recently in Botad district. Nearly 60 people lost their lives after consuming spurious country-made liquor in the district.
