Liquor smuggling racket busted

The State Taxes and Excise Department of Kullu has intensified its crackdown on liquor smuggling after multiple illegal consignments were intercepted within 24 hours. Acting on precise intelligence inputs, Excise teams launched a series of raids and road checks under the Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011, exposing an expanding nexus of illicit liquor trafficking in the district.

In one of the major seizures today, officials confiscated 146 boxes of illegal rum being transported in a truck disguised as carrying cement. The vehicle was impounded and the case handed over to the police for further investigation.

Earlier, on the night of October 14, an Excise team intercepted a Brezza vehicle at Bajaura arriving from Mandi. During inspection, 25 boxes of country liquor branded as VRV Santra were recovered. The driver failed to produce valid excise documents, following which the consignment was seized and a case was registered under Section 39 of the Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011.

In another operation, 22 boxes of the same liquor brand were discovered hidden in a storage room adjoining a chicken shop in the Parla Bhuntar area. The illegal stock was promptly seized and a separate case registered under the same Act.

The enforcement drive was led by State Taxes & Excise Officer Phool Chand Rana, along with Banjar Circle Assistant Excise Officer Pankaj Rana, Kullu Circle Assistant Excise Officer Rakesh Kumar, Constable Khima Ram Kaundal and driver Suresh Kumar.

Kullu State Taxes & Excise Deputy Commissioner Manoj Dogra commended the team for their swift and coordinated action, stressing that similar operations will continue across the district to curb the menace of illicit liquor trade and ensure compliance with excise laws.

Officials noted a surge in liquor smuggling in Himachal Pradesh due to lower alcohol prices in neighbouring states and Chandigarh. Smugglers often exploit this price gap to illegally transport liquor into the hill state, resulting in revenue loss and public health risks.