In a major crackdown on liquor smuggling, the Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) recovered an Eicher truck carrying Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) worth over ₹1.5 crore after it was found abandoned near Bakrol Toll Plaza on the SP Ring Road late Monday night.
The truck, registered in Rajasthan, was spotted lying unattended on Sanathal Road following a tip-off received by the SMC team during routine patrol on December 1. Officers discovered the vehicle sealed with plastic locks and filled with 196 sacks of sheep and goat wool, which were used to hide cartons and loose bottles of liquor stacked beneath plastic sheets.
During the search, the team recovered thousands of 180 ml bottles of premium IMFL brands worth ₹1.20 crore, including whisky labelled “For Sale in U.T. Chandigarh Only.” Sample bottles were sent for forensic testing as per procedure.
A raid on the truck cabin led to the recovery of fake GST bills, forged transport invoices, toll receipts from Rajasthan, MP and Gujarat, fuel slips, a Fastag chip, and a fake lorry receipt claiming the truck was transporting “room heaters” from Gurugram to Vapi. Officers also noted that the GSTIN numbers on the documents appeared forged and the engine number was missing, indicating tampering.
Preliminary investigation shows the truck owner and an accomplice loaded the liquor beneath wool sacks and handed the driver fake documents to bypass checks. The driver, who was instructed to deliver the consignment to an unidentified person in Gujarat, abandoned the truck and is currently absconding.
The SMC has registered offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The seized liquor, documents and the vehicle have been handed over to Sarkhej Police Station.
Officials said efforts are underway to locate the truck owner, trace the missing driver and identify the source and intended receivers of the consignment.