Smugglers attempting to use the cover of “essential services” to bypass dry day restrictions were thwarted tonight in a specialized operation by the Gurugram excise wing.
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The Interception: Acting on a specific tip-off about liquor movement during the Gandhi Jayanti dry period, excise teams set up a blockade near the Pachgaon Chowk. At approximately 9:30 PM, a milk tanker with Haryana registration was signaled to stop.
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Modus Operandi: While the exterior of the vehicle was branded for dairy transport, the “milk” smell was noticeably absent. Officials found that the main tank had been modified with a false partition. The front section held a small amount of milk to deceive inspectors, while the larger rear section was packed with crates of liquor.
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The Seizure:
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Quantity: Approx. 2,000 bottles (165+ cartons).
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Estimated Value: Between ₹15 lakh and ₹20 lakh in the black market, where prices skyrocket on dry days.
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Brands: The haul included popular IMFL brands and high-proof country liquor intended for rural pockets of Gurugram and Mewat.
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Legal Action: A case has been registered under the Haryana Excise Act at the Manesar Police Station. The two occupants of the tanker, residents of Rajasthan and Bhiwani, were taken into custody. Investigators are now tracing the source of the liquor, suspecting it was picked up from a warehouse in a neighboring district where excise monitoring might have been lax.
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Dry Day Vigilance: This seizure is part of a larger crackdown across the district today. Authorities reported that over 50 teams were deployed to ensure no illegal “backdoor” sales occurred at licensed vends, which were ordered to remain shut from midnight to midnight.
Context: The use of milk tankers, ambulances, and vegetable trucks for liquor smuggling has become a recurring challenge for Gurugram police. On dry days, when demand is high and supply is legally zero, such “innovative” smuggling methods typically see a sharp increase.
