Prohibition remains strictly enforced across Bihar, yet illicit liquor smuggling operations continue to surface with alarming frequency. Smugglers constantly devise novel methods to bypass law enforcement and move contraband into the state. Following a recent major seizure of illegal foreign liquor in Patna, authorities in Muzaffarpur have now uncovered an elaborate smuggling scheme where illegal alcohol was transported under the guise of essential electrical equipment.
Concealed beneath smart electricity meters
Despite strict state laws, operators continue to seek out new loopholes to traffic liquor into the region. In a major breakthrough, the police station in the Benibad area of Muzaffarpur executed a successful operation exposing an alcohol smuggling racket operating behind a facade of smart meters. During a routine vehicle inspection drive along National Highway 27, police intercepted a suspicious container truck and conducted a thorough search, uncovering a substantial cache of illegal foreign liquor and beer cleverly stacked inside.
Three suspects detained at the scene
Law enforcement authorities apprehended three individuals at the site, including the primary driver and the helper of the container. The arrested driver has been identified as Raghunath Sahni, a resident of Janugunj Ganeshpur village under the Sripanchali police station limits in Balasore district, Odisha. Meanwhile, the helper was identified as Rupak Kumar, hailing from Kaila Bakhri village under the Piert police station area.
Hidden compartment reveals large alcohol stash
Providing details on the operation, SDPO Alay Vats stated that authorities had received confidential intelligence indicating that a container traveling from Darbhanga toward Muzaffarpur was carrying a concealed consignment of foreign liquor. Acting on this tip-off, a specialized vehicle check was mounted on NH-27. Upon intercepting and inspecting the suspicious vehicle, officers discovered a specially constructed secret compartment within the cabin, yielding 102 cartons of foreign liquor and 48 cartons of beer.
Consignment originated from Assam
Police investigations revealed that the vehicle was officially loaded with 650 cartons of smart electricity meters, which served as a cover to mask the illegal cargo hidden beneath. Preliminary findings indicate that the container originated in Assam carrying the electrical equipment before smuggling the contraband into Bihar. The vehicle has been officially impounded, and authorities are actively interrogating the suspects to dismantle the wider trafficking network.
