LARGE QUANTITY OF IMFL SEIZED

LARGE QUANTITY OF IMFL SEIZED

15-FEB-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------Liquor smugglers in Bihar are already busy preparing for Holi. In Bhojpur, the Prohibition Department team conducted a major operation and seized 1,008 bottles of illegal foreign liquor from a Bolero vehicle. Two smugglers were arrested and sent to jail.

Holi, the festival of colors, falls on March 4th. Some people consume cannabis during this festival, while others, in the state of Bihar, which has a prohibition, obtain alcohol from elsewhere. Liquor smugglers also begin preparing in advance to provide liquor to these individuals and consume it during Holi. Large consignments of liquor are being seized daily in Bihar, suggesting that liquor is being brought into Bihar from other states for Holi. However, the police have also become active in this regard.

The Excise Department team is continuously conducting intensive raids. The police are also conducting intensive vehicle checks, arresting liquor smugglers and seizing consignments of domestic and foreign liquor. The Excise and Prohibition Department has achieved significant success in a special campaign against illegal liquor in the district, launched in anticipation of the Holi festival.

On the instructions of District Magistrate Tanay Sultania, a large quantity of illegal foreign liquor was recovered from a Mahindra Bolero during ongoing raids and vehicle checks. Assistant Commissioner of Prohibition Rajneesh received intelligence that foreign liquor was being transported from Uttar Pradesh to Hajipur via Bhojpur in a Bolero. Based on the information, a team was formed under the leadership of Inspector Prakash Chandra and action was taken.

On February 13, 2026, a Bolero (number BR01PF-0585) was stopped during a vehicle check near the Daulatpur Overbridge on the Buxar-Patna four-lane (Ara Mufussil Police Station, Bhojpur District). Upon searching the vehicle, a large quantity of illegal foreign liquor was recovered from a secret cellar. The recovered liquor included 1008 180 ml bottles of Officer's Choice whiskey (totaling 181.440 liters). The estimated market value of the seized liquor is approximately ₹2 lakh.

The Bolero driver, Ganesh Kumar (Narayanpur Dedhpura, Police Station-Mahanar, District-Vaishali) and his companion, Ravi Shankar Kumar, were arrested at the scene and handed over to the court. The raiding team included Inspector Prakash Chandra, ASI Ravi Kumar, ASI Rajkumar Raja, along with Prohibition constables, SAP, and Home Guard personnel. The Prohibition and Excise Department has clarified that this campaign against illegal liquor will continue and more stringent action will be taken in the coming days.