A joint State Excise Department operation in Dahanu and Palghar on September 4 led to the seizure of illegal liquor valued at Rs 32.25 lakh and the detention of three people, according to a report by Loksatta – Palghar.
The operation was conducted by the Dahanu and Palghar flying squads in the Dhundalwadi and Ambesari areas of Palghar district. The teams reportedly set up a joint trap after receiving information about the movement of liquor from the neighbouring Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli into Maharashtra.
Officials stopped and searched a car and a pickup vehicle that were moving suspiciously through the area. The search allegedly uncovered foreign liquor that was permitted for sale in Dadra and Nagar Haveli but prohibited in Maharashtra. The department seized 126 boxes of liquor, valued at Rs 14,25,480, according to the report.
The two vehicles used for transporting the stock were also seized. Their combined value was estimated at approximately Rs 18 lakh, taking the total value of the seized liquor and vehicles to Rs 32,25,480.
Three people were detained in connection with the alleged smuggling operation. The State Excise Department registered a case under the relevant law, although the report did not identify the specific legal sections invoked or provide details of the detainees.
The action was carried out under the guidance of senior officials from the State Excise Department. Officials from the Dahanu and Palghar flying squads participated in the operation, which focused on the movement of liquor from the neighbouring Union Territory into Maharashtra.
The seizure highlights the enforcement challenge along the border between Maharashtra and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, where differences in rules governing the sale and movement of liquor can create opportunities for unauthorised transport. In this case, the seized stock was reportedly legal for sale in Dadra and Nagar Haveli but not permitted in Maharashtra.
Further investigation is being conducted by officers of the State Excise Department and the police in Palghar and Dahanu. The authorities are expected to examine the source of the liquor, its intended destination and the role of the vehicles and detained individuals in the alleged transportation network.
