05 June,2026 05:30 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
The officials targeted known hotspots in Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts that have a history of illicit liquor production.. Representational Pic
The State Excise Department seized 73,440 bottles of Goa-made Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 1.89 crore from a truck on the Panvel-Mumbra Highway in Thane district, an official said on Friday.
The seizure was made on Wednesday evening following a tip-off, Konkan Divisional Deputy Commissioner of State Excise Pradeep Pawar told PTI.
According to officials, the truck driver initially claimed that the vehicle was transporting automobile parts. However, a thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 73,440 bottles of whisky manufactured in Goa.
Pawar said the liquor bottles did not carry batch numbers or Maximum Retail Price (MRP) labels and are prohibited from being sold in Maharashtra, reported PTI.
The driver has been booked under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, and further investigation into the liquor smuggling case is underway, the official said.
The Excise Department has stepped up its drive against the smuggling of spurious and illegally transported liquor from other states following last week's liquor tragedy in Pune, Pawar added.
The Maharashtra Excise Department has arrested 213 people across Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts as part of a major crackdown on the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor following the recent hooch tragedy in Pune, reported PTI.
In a separate incident, a special enforcement drive was conducted between May 29 and June 2 on the instructions of senior excise authorities.
Officials registered 313 cases during the operation and seized or destroyed property worth Rs 1.58 crore.
According to Divisional Deputy Commissioner (Excise) for the Konkan Division, Pradeep Pawar, excise teams raided illegal liquor manufacturing units and sales outlets across the three districts, the news agency reported.
Several hand-distillation units operating in creek-side areas and remote locations were demolished during the campaign.
The officials targeted known hotspots in Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts that have a history of illicit liquor production.
Officials also seized eight vehicles allegedly used for transporting illegal liquor.
The department has prepared a list of suspected liquor manufacturers and sellers in the region as part of efforts to prevent incidents similar to the recent hooch tragedy, according to the PTI.
The excise department has appealed to residents to report illegal liquor production, sale and transportation through its toll-free helpline and WhatsApp services.
The crackdown comes after a spurious liquor tragedy in Pune and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad claimed at least 15 lives. Following the incident, the state government suspended 22 police and excise officials for failing to curb illegal liquor activities, as per the PTI.
