Special teams of excise department raided various hideouts alongside river Sutlej 

Ferozepur: In a major crackdown against the bootlegging and smuggling of illicit liquor, special teams of the excise department raided various hideouts alongside river Sutlej on Thursday. The teams succeeded in destroying 48,000 liters of Lahan, and 425 bottles of illicit liquor besides recovering 30 plastic tarpaulins and other utensils. 

Giving more details, Deputy Commissioner Excise J.S. Brar said that under a zero-tolerance policy against the illicit liquor trade, special teams of the department conducted raids in the enclaves of the river Satluj, and subsequently seized and destroyed a massive amount of Lahan and illicit liquor. He added that ETO Excise Karambir Singh Mahla accompanied by Excise Inspector H.S. Bhatti on secret information raided into the interior of the river and recovered a seizable quantity of Lahan and illicit liquor along with utensils that were used in brewing procedure. He said that the department has also initiated the procedure of lodging of an FIR against the cartels of this illegal trade. 

He said that the department was on its mission against the smuggling, bootlegging, and manufacturing of illegal liquor as a large number of raids have been conducted recently with the massive recovery of illicit liquor, Lahan besides destroying live manufacturing units. The Deputy Commissioner Excise emphasized that the department has also booked several bootleggers, smugglers, and their associates, which was the reflection of the department’s resolve to deal with this illegal practice with an iron hand. /(August 20, 2020)