Maharashtra Excise Department seizes foreign liquor worth Rs 13 lakh from Panvel; 2 held

The liquor, comprising eight different foreign brands, was allegedly smuggled from Goa disguised as spare parts. Representational Pic

The flying squad of the Maharashtra Excise Department seized foreign liquor worth Rs 13 lakh in Panvel, Raigad district. The liquor, comprising eight different foreign brands, was allegedly smuggled from Goa disguised as spare parts.

Joint Commissioner Prasad Surve said two men, Uttam Sen from Rajasthan and Ramesh Purohit from Bhayander, were arrested. Officials also seized three mobile phones, which are now being examined for leads on other people involved in the racket. The duo has been remanded to four days' police custody by the Panvel court. Investigators suspect the involvement of an interstate smuggling gang.

Meanwhile, in a separate crackdown on Sunday, Mumbai Customs (Airport Commissionerate, Zone-III) seized 14.738 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana, worth Rs 14.73 crore.

The seizures were made across Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of one passenger, as stated in the press release.

The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

"Based on specific intel, the Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), Mumbai, intercepted 01 passenger arriving from Bangkok by flight no. MH194," a press note said.

Earlier, during operations carried out between July 29 and 30, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, seized 8.012 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) valued at approximately Rs 8 crore, an official statement said.

The press release stated that the seizures were made across four cases at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), resulting in the arrest of four passengers.