VELLORE: Illicit distilled (ID) arrack and rectified spirit (RS), worth around Rs 12 crore have been seized across the State since January this year. The police personnel attached to Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW), along with other units, have confiscated 1,984 vehicles in connection with these illicit operations.
Bootleggers’ Act has been invoked against 235 notorious bootleggers and as many as 537 have been legally expelled from their native place since January this year, said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Prohibition Enforcement Wing) C K Gandhirajan.
He held talks with senior police personnel in Vellore and the Collector R Nanthagopal on Saturday for intensifying the surveillance in PEW check-posts set up along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border. Gandhirajan also inspected the check-posts set up in Gudiyattam sub-division, bordering Chittoor, in AP. The ADGP, in a press statement said, the department had stepped up round-the-clock surveillance in 45 PEW check posts on the State’s border to check smuggling of contraband from neighbouring States into Tamil Nadu. The personnel deployed in check posts have been equipped with walkie-talkies and 24 jeeps.
The department had seized a huge haul of illicit liquor— including ID arrack, fermented wash, RS, toddy and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) bottles—worth around Rs 12.16 crore from January to October this year. This included 9,27,846 bottles of IMFL worth Rs 9.27 crore and 4.86 lakh litres of ID arrack worth around Rs 1.94 crore.
A total of 90,589 cases were registered against 91,554 prohibition offenders, including 7,613 women, during raids across the State.
Following intensified monitoring at PEW check posts, the number of prohibition cases have decreased. The department is also taking steps to arrest prohibition offenders, who were at large. Habitual offenders are being monitored constantly, Gandhirajan further said.
Meanwhile the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) of the Vellore police auctioned seized vehicles in Nethaji stadium recently. Mostly mechanics participated in the auction. Around Rs 8.8 lakh worth of vehicles were auctioned on the day. As many as 55 two-wheelers and a car were auctioned.
A PEW official said, “We have started auctioning the seized vehicles. In the coming weeks, we will auction four wheelers, mini lorries and other vehicles.”