Liquor worth Rs 15 crore seized in 'dry' Gujarat

A total of 555 flying squads, working with the Narcotics Control Bureau, district administration and the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)'s office, have seized liquor worth Rs 15 crore in the poll-bound 'dry' Gujarat, police said on Wednesday.

They confiscated Rs 35 crore worth of goods for violation of the prohibition law in the state.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)'s office has deputed anti-narcotics teams in each of the 182 constituencies of the state.

The nodal officer for the police deployment plan, Additional Directorate General of Police (ADGP) Mohan Jha said: "Since the date of announcement of the assembly polls, the administration has seized Rs 14.71 crore worth of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Rs 21 lakh worth of country liquor.

"Besides, it also confiscated Rs 20.48 crore worth of other goods, like vehicles used for transportation of liquor. The total value of seizures made for violation of the prohibition law effective in the state works out to Rs 35.41 crore. The police have filed 22,043 cases and arrested 17,886 persons till now."

In addition, the police officer said of the 56,439 licensed arms in the state, 50,589 have been deposited with the police. Also, 53 illegal arms, 102 cartridges and Rs 1.65 crore unaccounted cash was seized in the raids.

The term of the present state assembly ends on January 22, 2018. The first phase of elections will be held on December 9 in 89 constituencies and 93 constituencies will go to polls on December 14 in the second and last phase of polls. - IANS