The excise department in Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, has executed a major crackdown against illegal liquor operations, successfully dismantling a syndicate involved in manufacturing and smuggling duplicate alcohol. During this intensive operation, enforcement teams apprehended three individuals, including a female smuggler. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, simultaneous raids across multiple locations yielded massive quantities of raw spirit and bottled contraband, exposing the network's extensive reach within the region.
Raids Conducted Across Kanti and Saraiya Zones
Enforcement teams carried out targeted operations at various spots across the district. The first significant raid took place in Veerpur village under the Kanti police station jurisdiction. Led by Inspector Prakash Kumar and Sub-Inspector Abhimanyu Singh, a special team acted on a tip-off to arrest Shatrughan Mahto. A thorough search of a straw storage shed located near his house uncovered 800 litres of spirit concealed inside four large drums, alongside multiple water jars. Preliminary findings revealed that the accused procured raw spirit from West Bengal and other states to brew fake liquor locally.
Grocery Shop Used as Front for Illegal Trade
In another operation within the Abuchak area under the Saraiya police station jurisdiction, officials uncovered an illicit liquor trade operating covertly behind the facade of a routine grocery store. The excise team arrested the shopkeeper, Mohd Mustakim, on the spot. A detailed search of the premises led to the seizure of 35 cartons of foreign-made liquor originating from Uttar Pradesh, along with 80 loose bottles intended for distribution.
Female Smuggler Intercepted Aboard Bus in Ramdayalu Nagar
A third operation was conducted in the Ramdayalu Nagar area, where officials grew suspicious of a female passenger traveling on a bus. Upon inspecting her rucksack, authorities discovered 10 bottles of foreign liquor, leading to her immediate arrest at the scene. The excise department has registered separate First Information Reports across all three cases and initiated further legal proceedings. Excise Inspector Prakash Kumar Ram emphasized that enforcement drives against the production, storage, and smuggling of illicit alcohol remain active and unyielding throughout the district.
Strict Prohibition Laws and Prior Incidents Across Bihar
It is noteworthy that the state of Bihar maintains stringent prohibition laws regarding alcohol, though illicit operators continuously devise new methods to bypass authorities. Previously, a meat house in Sitamarhi was caught serving illegal liquor, resulting in the arrest of six individuals including the manager. Meanwhile, Gopalganj witnessed an astonishing smuggling tactic where bootleggers modified a Scorpio vehicle by converting its engine compartment, body panels, and spare wheel into hidden secret chambers, leaving police officials stunned.
