During routine patrolling, Margao excise officials confiscated 80 boxes of brandy at Ramnagri in Rumdamol-Davorlim near Sao Jose de Areal on Wednesday.
"We were carrying out a routine inspection at Sao Jose de Areal when we saw three boys standing with a lot of boxes. When we started questioning the boys about what the boxes contained, they fled the scene leaving the boxes," said Margao excise inspector Nilesh Naik.
Naik added that they suspected that the boys were waiting for either a car or another vehicle and that the boxes were probably meant to be illegally transported across the border. "From the way the boxes were covered, it appeared that the boxes were meant to be transported in trucks," added Naik, cautioning that they were still investigating the matter. Each box, kept in polythene bags, had 12 bottles-960 bottles in total, he added.
"We will be investigating the matter under the guidelines and instructions of excise commissioner P S Reddy," said Naik. "We also want to know whether it is genuine liquor and how it reached there," he added.
When asked if the incident could be interpreted as a violation of the election code of conduct, Naik stated that investigations would have to first prove what was the purpose of the boxes and whether the alcohol was meant for human consumption (in the state) or any other general purpose.
Sources added that there have been similar instances in the past following which police investigations had revealed that liquour was being brought from a factory located at Sao Jose de Areal and was kept at a godown at Arambol in Pernem from where it was loaded onto another vehicle and smuggled to Maharashtra on a regular basis.
In a related development, excise officials from Ponda raided a premises selling liquor in Talaulim. Sources said that on receiving a tip-off, the premises was raided in the afternoon for possessing and selling liquor without a license. Liquor worth 1,500 has been seized. An FIR has been lodged in this connection.
EC wants enforcement drives documented
PANAJI: Following public harassment complaints during patrolling and raids carried out, excise department officials and flying squad members have now been instructed that all enforcement drives be documented through videography. The documented data is to be submitted to the election commission on a regular basis.
Sources said that instructions to this effect were issued by the election commission.
With the election code of conduct in force, excise officials and flying squads are tasked with keeping a check on establishments selling liquor. Such establishments have to close by 10pm and also maintain accounts of liquor transactions.
Several establishments have already been raided in this connection.
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