Drive against liquor smuggling picks pace, vigil enhanced

SP, CRIME, ASHUTOSH MISHRA SAID THAT COPS OF ALL POLICE STATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, HAD BEEN ASKED TO REMAIN ALERT DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON

PRAYAGRAJ: Apart from the crackdown on hooch and arresting bootleggers operating in remote areas and wetlands of rivers in rural areas of Prayagraj, the district police have launched an intensive checking drive against smuggling of spurious liquor on highways and alternate routes that may be used by liquor smugglers considering the demand during the festive season.

Superintendent of police (SP), Crime, Ashutosh Mishra said that police personnel of all police stations, especially, in rural areas had been asked to remain alert during the festive season as liquor smugglers might try to take advantage of this period.

“Police personnel are keeping strict vigil on highways and launching routine checking drives, besides patrolling on alternate routes, which may be used by smugglers to enter the district, has been increased, he said.

The police had recently arrested two persons who were involved in smuggling and supply of spurious country liquor to country liquor shops in the trans-Ganga area.

On Tuesday, a team of Handia police laid a trap near Bhiti crossing and intercepted an SUV after a chase.

At least 15 cartons, containing 656 bottles of illegal country liquor along with 90 corks, 80 QR codes, were recovered from the vehicle.

Three persons in the SUV were arrested and they were identified as Santosh Yadav of Jaunpur, Dilip Jaiswal of Handia area and Vijay Kumar of Mirzapur district.

Questioning from them revealed that they were involved in smuggling of illegal liquor to country liquor shops in the region.

The illegal liquor was sold in bottles of branded liquor which poses health and life risk to consumers.

On September 4, Special Task Force had also arrested two persons with DCM carrying illicit English liquor smuggled from another state.

The smugglers informed that they used to supply the smuggled liquor in the region as it was less costly than brands sold here.