Illegal Liquor Worth Rs 12 Lakh Seized in Bhojpur; Two Smugglers Arrested

Bhojpur: In a major crackdown on liquor smuggling, the Bhojpur Prohibition and Excise Department has seized a large consignment of foreign liquor worth ₹12 lakh. The illegal consignment was being transported in a pickup truck near Kalyanpur turn on the Buxar-Patna four-lane highway in the Bihiya police station area.

The team recovered 5,136 bottles containing approximately 951.840 liters of foreign liquor hidden inside a plywood-covered compartment of the vehicle. Along with the seized liquor, officials have also arrested two smugglers—Vikas Mahato, son of Bharosi Mahato, a resident of Digha village in Patna district, and Harishankar Kumar, son of late Surendra Rai. The police have confiscated a Mahindra pickup (BR01GF-7215), which was being driven with a fake registration number (BR01GG-2279).

According to officials, the accused were smuggling liquor from Uttar Pradesh to Patna, concealing the bottles in a hidden compartment beneath a plywood-covered structure inside the pickup truck. Acting on secret information, a team led by Inspector Ajit Kumar was formed under the direction of Assistant Commissioner Rajneesh to intercept the vehicle.

“Based on intelligence inputs, we set up a checkpoint near Kalyanpur turn and conducted a thorough inspection of the vehicle. Upon investigation, we found a hidden compartment containing foreign liquor. The two smugglers were immediately taken into custody,” said Assistant Commissioner Rajneesh.

The arrested individuals are being processed for judicial custody, and further investigations are ongoing to track the entire supply chain involved in the smuggling operation. The successful operation was carried out by Assistant Sub Inspector Ajay Kumar, Sub Inspector Jamil Akhtar, and Home Guard personnel, along with SAP jawans.