The Maharashtra Excise Department has arrested six alleged smugglers from Nalasopara East. The department explained how such gangs procure empty high-cost bottles, fill them up with cheap liquor procured duty-free from other states, and sell them for a higher price.
In the past two years, the department has seized such illegal liquor bottles worth about ₹200 crore.
The department on Sunday seized high-end scotch bottles worth ₹1.24 crore from Nalasopara East and arrested six people. These bottles were smuggled from Madhya Pradesh, said officers. They were seized before the smugglers could mix them with cheap liquor and sell for profit.
The Sunday’s seizure included scotch of Johnnie Walker, Oban, Caolila, all smuggled from Madhya Pradesh where each bottle costs between ₹5,545 and ₹7,485. In Maharashtra, they are priced between ₹9,000 and ₹11,500.
According to the department, gangs purchase empty bottles of expensive liquor from scrap dealers or hoteliers and ensure the labels are intact. They polish the bottles and fill them with a mixture of high-end and cheap liquors to make expensive duplicate scotch.
Surjitt Sahani
