17 July,2026 04:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
The Maharashtra Excise Department officials on Friday seized Goa-manufactured liquor worth about Rs 17 lakh being smuggled into Maharashtra under the guise of transporting "recycled plastic scrap", officials said.
As reported by PTI, the recovery was made after a flying squad of the department intercepted a container truck at Shilphata Circle in Thane district in the early hours.
The officials while briefing about the seizure said that the haul comprised 403 boxes, including 393 boxes of country liquor and 10 boxes of foreign liquor, meant for sale only in Goa, as per PTI.
To evade law enforcement, the smugglers had generated fake invoices falsely declaring the consignment as "recycled plastic scrap. The contraband is valued at Rs 17 lakh," said Pravin Tambe, Superintendent, State Excise, Thane-1.
Tambe further added that one suspect, identified as Noor-Mohazzam Mohammad-Anwar Siddiqui, has been arrested in connection with the crime.
The Maharashtra State Excise Department has seized a large consignment of foreign liquor and beer that was allegedly being transported illegally into the state from a tempo in Palghar district, officials said on Saturday.
The seizure was made during a joint operation carried out by the State Excise Flying Squad, Palghar, and the Dahanu Division on Friday.
According to officials, the vehicle was intercepted on the Khambala-Jawhar Road near Gorthan village during a routine enforcement operation.
Divisional Deputy Commissioner Ganesh Bargaje said the seized liquor had allegedly been transported illegally from the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu into Maharashtra.
During the search, officials recovered 1,120.32 bulk litres of foreign liquor and 420 bulk litres of beer packed in 164 boxes from the tempo.
The total value of the seized liquor and the vehicle has been estimated at around Rs 22.9 lakh, officials said.
Following the seizure, the excise department registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
The tempo driver, a resident of Punjab, was arrested in connection with the case.
Officials have not disclosed the driver's identity as further investigation into the alleged illegal transportation network is underway.
(With inputs from PTI)
