Ahmedabad: A large consignment of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) was seized in two major operations in Gandhinagar on Monday night. In both cases, drivers of the vehicles carrying the liquor sped away when intercepted. Both vehicles were later found abandoned with a total stock worth over Rs 29 lakh. A team of local crime branch (LCB) was on patrol in the Adalaj area when it received specific intelligence about a vehicle with liquor headed to Ahmedabad from Mehsana. The team stationed itself at Jaspur near Umiya Dham temple. The SUV matching the description was signalled to stop, but sped away, with the cops in hot pursuit, officials said.The vehicle was later found abandoned near an overbridge near Shantigram, police said, adding that the driver slipped away under the cover of darkness. As many as 54 cartons containing 2,592 bottles of IMFL, including vodka brands marked ‘for sale in Chandigarh only’ were recovered. Police put its value at Rs 4.66 lakh, while the vehicle’s cost was put at an estimated Rs 10 lakh, taking the total seizure to Rs 14.66 lakh. Adalaj police have registered a case under the Prohibition Act.In the other operation, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) intercepted a vehicle near Nana Chiloda following a similar intelligence input. When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver accelerated and fled towards Ranasan village, prompting a pursuit. The suspect abandoned the vehicle near a canal in a sparsely populated area and escaped into nearby fields, taking advantage of the darkness and terrain.Police found 2,668 bottles and beer cans of various brands concealed under cloth. The seized liquor was valued at Rs 4.61 lakh. Investigators also found multiple number plates.
