Daijiworld Media Network – Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar, Jul 5: The Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has seized foreign liquor worth Rs 1.19 cr during a major raid in Chotila taluka of Surendranagar district, highlighting the persistent challenge of liquor smuggling in the dry state.

Acting on a tip-off, the SMC team raided a farmhouse near Kherdi village, close to Nagaraj Hotel, and uncovered nearly 1,000 boxes containing 8,596 bottles of foreign-made liquor. Authorities also seized a pickup vehicle suspected to be used for transporting the contraband.

In total, goods worth Rs 1.26 cr were confiscated. A case has been registered against 10 individuals, including Dilip Bavku Dhandhal of Nani Moldi village. Several accused are still absconding, and investigations are ongoing.

Gujarat, which enforces one of the strictest liquor bans under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, has seen a surge in seizures this year. In the first half of 2025 alone, authorities have uncovered multiple high-value smuggling attempts.

In Banaskantha, liquor worth Rs 17 lac was seized, while smaller operations in other districts netted alcohol valued between Rs 62,000 and Rs 7.35 lac.

The scale of the smuggling network mirrors last year’s figures. In 2024, Gujarat Police seized over 82 lac bottles of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), valued at Rs 144 cr. On average, one bottle was seized every 4 seconds.

The SMC alone registered 455 cases in 2024, confiscating liquor worth Rs 22.5 cr, with the total value of seized property crossing Rs 52 cr.

Though Gujarat maintains a total ban on alcohol, limited exceptions are allowed for tourists with permits and for medical purposes with health certificates. Violations invite stringent penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and seizure of vehicles involved in smuggling.