OVER 1350 LITRES OF IMFL SEIZED

OVER 1350 LITRES OF IMFL SEIZED

3-NOV-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------In a significant law enforcement operation targeting illicit alcohol smuggling into dry Bihar, the Prohibition and Excise Department intercepted a heavily modified passenger bus carrying a massive consignment of foreign liquor at Gyanpur Mor along the Buxar–Ara–Patna National Highway (NH-922). The raid resulted in the seizure of over 1,350 liters of illegal foreign liquor cleverly concealed inside custom-built secret compartments beneath the vehicle’s floorboards.

Estimated to be worth approximately ₹20 lakh on the black market, the contraband was being transported all the way from Haryana to its destination in Muzaffarpur before excise officials foiled the transit. Three key operatives managing the bus and overseeing the illegal cargo were arrested on the spot.

Despite Bihar’s complete prohibition on the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol, interstate syndicates frequently attempt to exploit highway corridors connecting neighboring states to supply bootleggers. The latest interception at Gyanpur Mor highlights the increasing tactical coordination among state enforcement agencies.

Acting on specific intelligence regarding a large-scale liquor consignment entering the state from Uttar Pradesh via Haryana, a dedicated enforcement team led by Inspector Prakash Chandra established a covert interception point along National Highway 922.

As the targeted six-wheeler passenger bus bearing registration number UP57AT4206 approached Gyanpur Mor in Bhojpur district, excise personnel signaled the driver to pull over for a routine check.

 While the upper cabin appeared structured like a standard long-distance commercial passenger vehicle, an in-depth physical examination revealed structural anomalies in the vehicle's floor framework.

To evade highway security check-posts across state lines, the smuggling network had completely re-engineered the lower body of the bus.

Instead of carrying regular passengers or commercial luggage, the six-wheeler vehicle was custom-fitted with hidden cavities and secret compartments welded beneath the main passenger cabin floor structure.

Upon forcing open the hidden access panels, excise officers uncovered 1,350 liters of premium foreign liquor neatly stacked in sealed crates to prevent rattling during long-distance transit.

Senior officials confirmed that the street value of the confiscated liquor is estimated at around ₹20 lakh due to high demand in dry prohibition zones.

Following the recovery, officers immediately took the three occupants of the bus into custody. Preliminary questioning revealed that all three suspects are key logistics operatives tasked with safely delivering the consignment across state boundaries. The arrested individuals have been identified as:

·       Virendra Kumar Singh (Resident of Madhubani district)

·       Rajeev Kumar Yadav (Resident of Madhubani district)

·       Ramjee Kumar Sah (Resident of Madhubani district)

All three suspects were formally charged under relevant provisions of the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act and subsequently remanded into judicial custody.

Investigations into the vehicle's trajectory revealed a long-distance supply chain stretching across northern India.

frequently targeted by illegal traffickers due to lower excise rates—and traversed multiple state borders without detection by relying on its deceptive appearance as a public transport vehicle. Its ultimate destination was Muzaffarpur, where local receivers were slated to take delivery of the stock for distribution across North Bihar.

The Prohibition and Excise Department has broadened its investigation to trace both the origin and local delivery nodes of the syndicate:

·       Backward Linkages: Authorities are coordinating with counterparts in Haryana to identify the primary suppliers, distilleries, or illegal warehouses that furnished the bulk alcohol.

·       Forward Linkages: Teams are currently interrogating the arrested trio and examining mobile device records to pinpoint the exact identities of the kingpins and receivers based in Muzaffarpur.

·       Vehicle Seizure & Forfeiture: Proceedings have been initiated for legal forfeiture of the bus (UP57AT4206) used in the commission of the crime.

The successful bust at Gyanpur Mor underscores the evolving challenges facing Bihar's prohibition enforcement and highlights the vigilance of the state's Prohibition and Excise Department. By neutralizing this ₹20 lakh consignment and arresting the operatives involved, law enforcement has dealt another severe blow to the interstate bootlegging networks attempting to profit off illicit trade routes into Bihar.