Smuggling syndicate exposed: Punjab liquor routed to Bihar via Jharkhand
🔹 Police investigations reveal a sophisticated handover mechanism
🔹 Two major seizures in 48 hours lead to 1,574 cartons of contraband confiscated
By Akshay Lahre
Jashpur । The recent crackdown by Jashpur Police on an elaborate interstate liquor smuggling racket has revealed a well-structured trafficking network operating across multiple states. The police, acting on intelligence, have arrested two drivers and seized over Rs 3 crore worth of illicit liquor, exposing a highly organised syndicate that has been evading law enforcement through carefully mapped-out transport routes.
Investigators have traced the origins of the smuggled liquor to Punjab’s distilleries, where consignments were discreetly loaded onto trucks under false documentation. The contraband was then moved through rural roads, bypassing major highways to avoid police scrutiny.
According to police sources, the first breakthrough came two days ago, when authorities intercepted a 12-wheeler Ashok Leyland truck (PB 11CP2003) near Sardar Dhaba in Loro Ghat. Upon inspection, officers found 7,015 litres of Punjab-made English liquor concealed beneath cement bags. The truck driver, identified as Shravan Singh (43), a resident of Chamba, Punjab, was immediately arrested.
However, investigators suspected a larger network at play. Analysis of the driver’s mobile phone and interrogations led officers to another truck actively transporting illicit liquor via a similar route. Following a tip-off, a police team was dispatched to Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, where they seized a second truck (UP 14DT 7849) loaded with 7,012 litres of English liquor valued at nearly Rs 2.5 crore. The driver, Balwinder alias Golu (25), a resident of Patiala, Punjab, was arrested.
Investigations reveal that smugglers follow a consistent modus operandi. The illicit consignments are handed over to truck drivers on the Punjab-Haryana border near Cheeka Road. These drivers, unaware of the complete supply chain, only transport the liquor to pre-decided handover locations, such as Hazaribagh in Jharkhand.
Once the shipment reaches its checkpoint, another smuggling team takes control of the truck, diverts the load to its destination, unloads the liquor, and returns the empty truck to the original driver. The drivers are then paid in cash before heading back to Punjab for the next consignment.
Senior police officials suggest that this network has been thriving due to gaps in border surveillance, with traffickers preferring routes with fewer toll plazas and police checks to minimise the risk of detection.
Next Steps in the Investigation
The back-to-back seizures have intensified the probe, with SSP Shashi Mohan Singh stating:
“The syndicate is operating on a large scale, and we are now focusing on tracing its masterminds. The arrested drivers are just the couriers—our goal is to track down those financing and organising these operations.”
Authorities are now digging deeper into financial trails, suspecting major liquor suppliers and distributors in Punjab and Bihar to be part of this racket. Sources indicate that more arrests are likely in the coming days, as investigators map out suspected kingpins and logistics handlers involved in the illegal trade.
Jashpur Police, which has now seized 1,574 cartons of smuggled liquor within just two days, has sent a strong message to traffickers that their operations will no longer go unchecked. This crackdown is being seen as one of the biggest successes in curbing illegal liquor trade in recent times.
