ED raids illegal warehouse in Daman and recovers alcohol worth Rs 2.5 crore

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday unearthed an illegal warehouse run by the liquor mafia in Daman.

As reported in ANI, the ED recovered liquor worth Rs 2.5 crore. In addition, several luxury cars were seized. 

ED unearthed illegal warehouse of liquor mafia in Daman,recovered liquor worth over Rs 2.5 crore, many luxury cars also seized

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 10, 2017

In a tweet, the ED said that the main target was Gujarat liquor mafia don Ramesh Patel aka Michael. They added that Rs 7 crore worth of liquor stock was still missing. 

ED raided Gujarat liquor mafia Don Ramesh Patel@ Michael locations in Daman. 7 Crore worth of liquor stock missing.

— ED (@dir_ed) May 10, 2017

Further, there are more than 30 cases registered against Patel at various Police Stations in Gujarat for similar activities under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949,

The accused hold businesses in Daman in the name of Sai Wine Shop, Sai Enterprise, Sai Bar and Restaurant, Damania Enterprise Wine Shop, which are used for depositing the money earned from the supply of IMFL.

The details of the bank accounts indicate deposits of Rs 223.47 crore in cash, over a period of three years.

Investigation revealed that generally a trailer truck with a shipping container loaded on it is used for smuggling of IMFL using forged invoices of any genuine manufacturing entity for camouflaging the illicit removal of IMFL through Daman check post, purportedly showing it to be a legitimate cargo.

The liquor business in Daman is carried out under a license issued by the Excise authorities under the Goa, Daman and Diu Excise Duty Act, 1964. The act stipulates that no individual can enter into a partnership with the original license holder without the consent of the Commissioner of Excise.