Country liquor smuggled in cold drink bottles in Odisha seized, two arrested

In a tricky smuggling attempt, country liquor was being transported in cold drink bottles from Udala in Mayurbhanj district to Bhubaneswar. Acting on a tip-off, police seized 110 litres and arrested two accused from Ambikadeipur village at Udala bus stand, on Monday.

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According to sources, Udala Police have busted a liquor smuggling operation where country-made liquor was being transported in cold drink bottles. The consignment, heading from Udala to Bhubaneswar, was intercepted at the Udala bus stand based on a tip-off.

Police conducted a raid and seized 110 litres of the illicit liquor cleverly hidden inside soft drink bottles packed in six travel bags. Two individuals from Ambikadeipur village have been arrested in connection with the case.

Deliveryman gets Rs 500 per trip

The accused were on their way to Salia Sahi, a locality in Bhubaneswar, to deliver the liquor. For each successful delivery, they receive Rs 500, police sources said.

Following the seizure and arrests, police have launched an investigation to trace the main accused behind the operation, suspecting that a larger network of local bootleggers may be involved in the illegal activity.

Udala Police team warned that innovative smuggling tactics will be closely monitored in the coming days.

“We were carrying the liquor to Salia Sahi in Bhubaneswar. One person gave us the liquor to transport and committed us to pay Rs 500,” an accused Laba Singh said.

“We hail from Ambikadeipur village in Udala and were on our way to Bhubaneswar. I was going for the first time. My younger brother (Laba) asked me to join him and assured me of Rs 500 for the task,” another accused Bholanath Singh stated to mediapersons.

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“I agreed to his proposal as my wife is sick and I had to purchase medicines for her. I was carrying three bags full of country liquor. I do not know the person (bootlegger) who gave us the liquor. He (Laba) had contacted me to accompany him,” Bholanath added.

Reported By: Abhijeet Biswal