Eight Haryana liquor smugglers held with luxury cars in Bihar

A SKODA LAURA AND A TOYOTA COROLLA WERE STOPPED FOR ROUTINE CHECK AT THE BIHARUP CHECKPOST AT MOHANIA ON WEDNESDAY

KAIMUR (BIHAR): When personnel of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar flagged down a Skoda Laura and a Toyota Corolla at the Bihar-UP checkpost on Wednesday, little did they imagine they were looking at liquor smugglers sitting in the luxury cars.

The check was normal for all vehicles entering Bihar from Uttar Pradesh at the first check post at Mohania.

But when the boots were opened, it surprised them to see 537 bottles of Haryana made Royal Stag- a hit in Bihar- being smuggled for sale.

The EOU team promptly arrested all eight occupants in the two cars with Delhi numberplates of whom four from Haryana and four of Rohtas district of Bihar.

Liquor is banned in Bihar since April 5, 2015. However, the stringency with which law has been applied has forced liquor smugglers to adopt innovative ways to smuggle India made foreign liquor (IMFL), which now costs twice the original mark up price and makes it worth the risk.

EOU officers said, they had specific information on consignment being smuggled into Bihar but were not sure that luxury vehicles would be used.

The EOU team led by deputy superintendent of police Gaurav Pandey and Ajay Prasad raided Machan Line Hotel near Mohania with the help of Mohania SDPO Manoj Ram, where the smugglers were ensconced and about to offload their consignment.

The team recovered 288 ml of the liquor and seized Rs 1.43 lakh in cash, besides 10 mobile sets. The EOU also seized the vehicles.

EOU chief JS Gangwar said liquor smuggling was widespread in Kaimur, Rohtas, Buxar and Bhojpur districts and those caught had revealed names and addresses of other gang members. He said the operation was a huge success.