4,700 smuggled liquor bottles seized, one held

SURENDER WAS FOUND INVOLVED IN FOUR CASES, THE FIRST REGISTERED AGAINST HIM UNDER EXCISE ACT

NEW DELHI : A 40-year-old transporter from Haryana’s Bahadurgarh has been arrested for allegedly smuggling illicit liquor into Delhi from Haryana and supplying it to bootleggers to earn easy money, police said on Friday.

A mini-truck loaded with 192 cartons containing around 4, 700 liquor bottles was seized from the man, identified as Surender Singh.

Atul Kumar Thakur, deputy commissioner of police (northeast), said the arrest came following drives being carried out at border areas by the police in coordination with the excise department to curb trafficking of illicit liquor.

Late on June 12, Thakur said, information was received that a mini-truck laden with illicit liquor would enter Delhi from Uttar Pradesh in Nand Nagri. A trap was set to nab the suspect.

“The van was spotted and its driver was signalled to stop. But the driver abandoned the vehicle and tried to flee. Our team members chased and caught him. The vehicle was searched and over 4,600 illicit liquor bottles kept in 192 cartons were seized,” added Thakur.

During interrogation, police said, Surender said he joined the illegal trade to earn easy money.

Surender was found involved in four cases, the first registered against him under excise act at the Kanjhawala police station in 1997, the officer added.