Despite the strict enforcement of prohibition across Bihar, bootleggers continue to devise deceptive tactics to smuggle illegal liquor into the state. In Gopalganj district, excise enforcement teams uncovered an unusual smuggling arrangement during a targeted inspection drive. A motorcycle rider crossing the border from Uttar Pradesh had hollowed out a domestic gas cylinder to build a concealed compartment, substituting cooking gas with liquor bottles. Law enforcement officers intercepted the suspect, confiscating both the modified cylinder and the transport vehicle.
Suspicious Bedsheet Wrap Triggers Roadside Search
The seizure took place near Karma Tola Fulwariya, situated within the Kuchaikote police station jurisdiction. An excise police unit had set up a checkpoint in the area to track down contraband movements along interstate transit routes. During the vigilance operation, personnel spotted a motorcyclist riding in from the direction of Uttar Pradesh. A metal gas cylinder was mounted onto the bike and completely shrouded beneath a wrapped bedsheet. The deliberate attempt to conceal the cylinder raised immediate suspicion among officers, prompting them to halt the vehicle for a physical check.
Inspection Uncovers Secret Chamber Stashed with Bottles
Upon removing the sheet, officers closely examined the canister and quickly discovered that it was not carrying liquefied gas. Instead, the cylinder had been altered to serve as a hidden storage compartment designed specifically for moving contraband undetected. Tucked securely inside the chamber were 127 bottles of Bunty-Babli liquor, each containing a volume of 200 ml. Excise officials promptly confiscated the 127 bottles, seized the motorcycle, and placed the suspect under arrest on the spot.
Interrogations Target Supply Source and Delivery Chain
Excise Superintendent Amritesh Kumar stated that investigative teams are thoroughly interrogating the arrested smuggler to dismantle the operation. Authorities are actively working to pinpoint the exact pickup location across the Uttar Pradesh border as well as the destination where the consignment was scheduled to be delivered. Investigators are systematically tracing both backward and forward linkages to identify every handler, supplier, and distributor involved in this interstate conduit.
Enforcement Tightens Across Border Routes
The excise department confirmed that surveillance operations and vehicle checkpoints are being intensified across Gopalganj to strictly enforce prohibition regulations. Authorities are monitoring suspicious transit points and conducting spot checks on unusual cargo loads. Highlighting the ongoing enforcement drive, police in Gopalganj also recently intercepted a Bolero vehicle carrying 216 liters of foreign liquor, leading to the arrest of six individuals, including five women. The discovery of the modified gas cylinder has pushed border patrol teams to scrutinize even ordinary utility items during transit checks.
