Luxury car smuggling foreign liquor from Wardha seized near Bhisi, two arrested

Chandrapur's Local Crime Branch (LCB) has busted a foreign liquor smuggling operation being run through a luxury car on the Umred to Bhisi road. Police laid a trap near JB Hotel, stopped the car and seized a total of Rs 7,51,850 worth of goods, including the vehicle. Two people have been arrested red-handed in the case, while a third accomplice is still at large. The operation is being seen as a major crackdown in the ongoing drive against illegal liquor smugglers active in the Wardha to Chandrapur-Gadchiroli belt.

Police had received prior tip-off that a large quantity of foreign liquor was going to be smuggled through a four-wheeler on the Umred-Bhisi road. After verifying the information, an LCB team set up a checkpoint and kept watch in the JB Hotel area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Bhisi police station. The team decided to wait and watch for the suspected vehicle. Shortly after, a Ford EcoSport bearing registration number GJ-15-CD-3292 was seen approaching at speed, and police immediately intercepted it.

A thorough search of the vehicle revealed a large stock of foreign liquor hidden inside. The team seized as many as 219 bottles of 2-litre "Royal Stag Classic Whisky", valued at around Rs 2,51,850 at market rates. Along with this, the Ford EcoSport car used for the smuggling, valued at approximately Rs 5 lakh, was also seized. Police said the total value of the seized goods, including both the liquor and the vehicle, came to Rs 7,51,850.

Police arrested two men at the spot: Mukesh alias Monu Madanlal Vishwakarma (31), a resident of Samatanagar, opposite Ambedkar Bagicha, Wardha, and Adarsh Ashok Patil (22), a resident of Tukdoji Ward, Hinganghat, Wardha district. Both are residents of Wardha district and were caught while travelling in the car.

During questioning, the name of a third accomplice in the racket, Prashant, a resident of Aheri, Gadchiroli district, came up. He is currently absconding, and police are searching for him. A case has been registered against the accused at Bhisi police station under Sections 65(a) and 83 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.

The LCB's swift action has rattled illegal liquor smugglers active in the Wardha to Chandrapur-Gadchiroli belt. It has emerged that foreign liquor is being smuggled repeatedly through this route, and police say they are keeping close watch on such transportation.