Cops foil bid to smuggle illicit liquor in cattle feed sacks

In a scene straight out of a crime thriller, the Outer North District Team of the Delhi Police foiled a bootlegger’s desperate attempt to smuggle thousands of quarters of illicit liquor disguised as cattle feed.

The recovery took place on Wednesday night in Shahbad Dairy where 5,400 quarters and 336 bottles of illegal alcohol were seized from a Tata Intra Pickup truck packed with sacks of cattle feed.

The operation unfolded after the police received a tip-off about a large consignment of illicit liquor being transported to the city.

After getting information, the police laid a trap near Shahbad Dairy and intercepted a Tata Intra Pickup truck around 9:30 pm. During checking, the officers were stunned to find dozens of cattle feed sacks neatly stacked to conceal the liquor inside.

The police arrested the truck driver Saurabh Singh (25), a resident of Vijay Vihar, Delhi. He was previously involved in two excise-related cases, they said.

During interrogation, Saurabh revealed that he had procured the liquor from Haryana to sell it in Delhi. The police are verifying his claims.

“The accused was planning to sell illegal liquor in Delhi. Suppliers have been using this technique to hide illegal liquor. After the arrest of the accused, the technique used by illegal liquor suppliers has been busted,” said DCP Hareshwar Swami.

The seized liquor, comprising thousands of quarter bottles and large cartons, was promptly logged under the Delhi Excise Act. The police confirmed that the accused intended to sell the stock in the city’s illicit market, potentially endangering public health. Further investigation was underway.