Varanasi: Chandauli police busted an interstate liquor smuggling gang, arrested five members and seized 775 cartons of Indian-made foreign liquor worth Rs 1.2 crore during a joint operation by Alinagar police, SWAT and the surveillance team. The liquor, measuring 6,935 litres, was being transported to Bihar for sale at higher rates.The accused told police that the liquor was purchased at lower prices from Delhi and Chandigarh and was being transported to Bihar for sale at higher rates.Chandauli CO (PDDU Nagar) Arun Kumar Singh said that, based on a tip-off, Alinagar police launched a checking drive near Singhitali Bridge on NH-19 and attempted to stop a truck. However, the driver allegedly tried to run over the police team and escape. The team quickly surrounded the truck and stopped it.Three accused, identified as Gulam Mustafa, Sheikh Khalid and Sabir Alam, were arrested. During the search, police recovered liquor hidden beneath 70 sacks. The seized liquor included bottles of different brands of IMFL. The bottles were marked “For Sale in UT Chandigarh Only”, and their barcodes were found scratched off.Singh said the total quantity of seized liquor was 6,935 litres and its estimated value was over Rs 1.2 crore.During interrogation, the accused revealed that an SUV was moving ahead of the truck and providing updates about police locations. Acting immediately, police intercepted the SUV and arrested two more accused, identified as Razauddin and Om Chinmay Panda. Five ATM cards were recovered from the car.A case has been registered at Alinagar police station under relevant sections, and both the truck and SUV were also seized.
