Hyderabad: The Excise Enforcement Department of Hyderabad on Thursday caught three liquor smugglers and seized 171 litres of foreign liquor worth Rs 18 lakh.
The non-duty paid foreign liquor was illegally being imported from Malaysia into Hyderabad and Chennai Airports and from Chennai the liquor was being supplied into Hyderabad in tourist buses.
Overall the Excise Department have seized 171 bottles worth Rs 18 lakhs, Rs 2 lakhs cash, two motorcycles and four cell phones, from the possession of accused.
C Vivekanandareddy, Deputy Commissioner of Excise said, on credible information, officials of Excise Enforcement Department raided a travel agency office opposite to Nampally Railway station. During the raid the excise officers have caught prime accused T Venkatesh (55) red-handed and seized 12 one litres bottles of Chivasregal Whisky from his possession.
“After the interrogation, we have come to know that the liquor was being supplied from duty-free shops at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad and from a person named Doraisingam, and his co-partner Phanendrababu who were procuring liquor from Chennai Airport,” Mr. Venkatesh added.
The prime accused was collecting foreign liquor bottles from the passengers of Malaysian Flights who went there to smuggle Electronic goods with the help of Duty-free shop employees. While Venkatesh partner Khaled and Anil who helped him were working at a duty-free shop in Hyderabad Airport, Mr. Venkatesh informed.
The Excise Department of Hyderabad, on after the in-depth investigation, recovered 106 various brands of Foreign Liquor including Blue Lable, Chivasregal, Royalselute, Glenmorangie, Black label and the Gold label of Jhonny Walker. “All of these brands are very expensive, each bottle can cost around Rs 35, 000,” Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Venkatesh said.
Excise officials said, “The liquor was allegedly supplied to high profile customers in city, the customers who were purchasing foreign liquor from the accused will also be booked, the team of Excise Department is tracing their mobile phones to obtain evidence of customers. Once found, they also will be booked.”
SIASAT NEWS