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Ahmedabad, Oct 19 (IANS) In a pre-Diwali crackdown, the Ahmedabad Police on Sunday launched a strict enforcement drive to ensure compliance with the Gujarat Prohibition Act, as foreign liquor worth over Rs 2.06 crore seized from two areas of the city was destroyed by bulldozers.
According to police sources, a seizure of Rs 1.69 crore was recorded during the raids conducted in areas including Ramol, Nikol, Odhav, Rakhiyal, Gomtipur, Bapunagar and Amraiwadi in Zone 5 of Ahmedabad East.
Meanwhile, police stations under Zone 7 – which includes Sarkhej, Vasna, Satellite, Bodakdev, Vejalpur, Ellisbridge and Anandnagar – seized liquor worth Rs 37 lakh.
Overall, the value of the seized liquor stock was Rs 2.06 crore.
The seized liquor was destroyed at two different places under government supervision.
In the enforcement action, liquor bottles were laid out on the ground and flattened under the weight of bulldozers.
Senior police officials including Deputy Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police and representatives of concerned government departments were present during the demolition operation.
Through this move, Ahmedabad Police reiterated its commitment to maintain law and order during the festive season and ensure that the city remains free from illegal liquor trade.
Despite a long-standing ban in Gujarat under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, the scale of smuggling and seizure of illicit liquor remains considerable. For example, government data shows that during the last two years till December 2022, the state seized liquor (including India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), country-made wine and beer) worth about Rs 212 crore.
This includes IMFL worth approximately Rs 197.56 crore, country liquor worth approximately Rs 3.99 crore and beer bottles worth approximately Rs 10.51 crore.
In the year 2024 alone, official records show that Gujarat Police seized around 82 lakh bottles of liquor (IMFL) worth around Rs 144 crore.
In another incident, the state surveillance cell for the year 2024 registered 455 cases across Gujarat in which liquor worth about Rs 22.51 crore was seized and the total items (including liquor) were worth about Rs 52 crore.
–IANS
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