1.7cr liquor shown as medicines, smuggled

Thane: The excise department busted an interstate smuggling network that allegedly used fake medical invoices to smuggle massive consignments of foreign liquor worth Rs 1.7 crore concealed and transported in containers shown as pharmaceutical cargo.Based on a tipoff, a flying squad intercepted a container truck plying on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway near Kharegaon toll naka on Tuesday. Officials said the liquor was manufactured in Goa and was being illegally transported to other states using forged documentation. Truck driver Pargat Singh and another man, Amritbir Singh, were arrested."We intercepted the truck around 6.30pm following a tipoff and found a large quantity of foreign liquor concealed inside boxes. A total of 1,450 boxes (12,528 litres) were recovered. The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior officials, with a team of inspectors and staffers executing the raid," said Pravin Tambe, excise superintendent, Thane.Officials suspect the involvement of a larger interstate smuggling network. Further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the racket.