NT Reporter
Panaji
A recent crime branch raid that led to the seizure of a large quantity of spurious and adulterated liquor has exposed the clandestine methods used by a liquor smuggling racket, police sources said.
The truck driver caught with a consignment of 1,498 liquor boxes was allegedly asked to park the vehicle along the highway on the outskirts of Panaji and return the next day. The driver later told police that he had no idea where the truck was taken or where it was loaded, police sources said.
According to police sources, bootleggers loaded the spurious liquor in a manner that made the consignment appear to be wall putty. Bags of wall putty were placed along the periphery of the truck, and fake receipts were prepared to deceive authorities at check posts.
The driver told police that he was informed the consignment contained wall putty meant to be transported to Belagavi and claimed he did not know the bootleggers.
“Efforts are on to identify and arrest the main accused involved in the racket,” police sources said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Earlier this month, the crime branch arrested Hussain Sab Mulla (35) during a raid at Merces and seized 1,498 liquor boxes and other material worth around Rs 1 crore. Police said the seized items included 35 bags of wall putty, one invoice and a mobile phone.
Mulla, a native of Bijapur in Karnataka, was caught while allegedly transporting spurious and adulterated liquor from Goa to an unknown destination in Belagavi. Police said no permissions were obtained from the concerned authorities and no fees were paid, resulting in revenue loss to the government.
Police registered an offence under Sections 125, 274, 318(4), 335, 336(2), 336(3) and 340(2) of the BNS, 2023, and Sections 30(a) and 30(b) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Excise Duty Act, 1964.
