In Dry State Gujarat, Over 82 Lakh Liquor Bottles Seized In 2024

In the dry state of Gujarat, an Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) bottle was seized every four seconds in 2024, according to police data.

Out of 82 lakh bottles worth ₹144 crore confiscated across the state, 4,38,047 bottles were seized in Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad rural, and the Western Railways' Ahmedabad jurisdiction.

Ahmedabad city alone recorded 2,139 cases involving 3.06 lakh IMFL bottles, along with 7,796 cases related to 1.58 lakh litres of country-made liquor, reported the Times of India.

While experts credit the figures to intensified police action, they caution that this may only be the tip of the iceberg. Vadodara rural led the crackdown, with authorities seizing ₹9.8 crore worth of IMFL bottles concealed in secret compartments of trucks and warehouses.

In Surat rural, an equally rigorous operation uncovered ₹8.9 crore worth of IMFL disguised as household items in an interstate smuggling racket. Navsari followed closely with the confiscation of 6.23 lakh IMFL bottles traced to high-tech manufacturing units operating in neighbouring states. Godhra witnessed the seizure of IMFL bottles valued at ₹8.8 crore.

Bhavnagar recorded seizures amounting to ₹8.7 crore worth of IMFL and country-made liquor hidden inside water tanks and beneath fresh vegetable consignments.

A senior official commented, "For smugglers, these raids serve as a stark reminder that no matter how innovative their tactics, they will not be allowed to flout the law. The message is clear: there is no place for lawlessness in the land of Gandhi."

However, a retired Director General of Police (DGP) stated that it is practically impossible to completely halt the flow of liquor and smuggling from neighbouring states.

"The police must also target local breweries. A lapse in vigilance could lead to another hooch tragedy," the former official warned.