The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of the Gujarat DGP has seized liquor worth nearly ₹3 crore from two containers near Pragpar Chokdi close to Mundra Port.The operation was carried out over the weekend.
According to investigators, the seized consignment is linked to a network allegedly operated by notorious Kutch bootlegger Anopsinh Rathod, who is currently lodged in jail. Police said the racket had been smuggling liquor from Punjab to Gujarat by disguising it as domestic cargo.
Over the past three months, 11 such containers were transported by train from Punjab to Mundra without scrutiny, as they were marked as goods meant for internal movement within India.
During the raid, officials recovered 11,731 bottles of foreign liquor worth ₹1.54 crore from the first container, with batch numbers intentionally removed. A second container traced to the RND Yard at Mundra Port held 12,600 bottles worth ₹1.42 crore, shipped using forged documents.
Police have booked several people, including drivers, facilitators, and traders involved in coordinating the transportation. Investigators are examining whether the consignment was intended for distribution in Kutch or routed onward to Surat.