Customs officers in Valsad, Gujarat, intercepted a suspicious boat off the Kolak coast and seized 18,672 bottles of Indian-made liquor worth nearly Rs 50 lakh. The consignment, smuggled from Daman into Gujarat in violation of state prohibition laws, was found in 555 boxes during routine sea patrolling. While no customs duty applied to the liquor, it fell under state prohibition enforcement.
The seized goods, boat, and eight bootleggers were handed over to the Police Inspector at Pardi police station with proper documentation. Gujarat Police took possession of the liquor for further legal procedures. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover more details about the smuggling operation.
Enforcement efforts against illicit liquor trafficking in Gujarat have intensified, with recent significant seizures reported. In a separate incident, the Surendranagar Local Crime Branch confiscated 11,220 bottles of liquor worth Rs 76.56 lakh. Similarly, police in Dahod district intercepted two trucks carrying 30,000 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor valued at Rs 1.92 crore. Smugglers often use coastal routes and concealed transport methods to evade authorities, necessitating coordinated actions by customs and police.
