Bootleggers prefer these to larger consignments in order to dodge police.
About a week ago, the crime branch seized a Maruti Swift car, which was carrying beer and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs1 lakh.
Another car, carrying IMFL worth Rs1 lakh, was seized when its driver was trying to dodge police patrol in Juhapura. What is significant in these two seizures that liquor consignment was being carried in small cars, not in trucks which is the usual mode of transportation. Also, the consignments were smaller in size.
The reason is simple: It is election time and bootleggers of the city view this as an opportunity to make big bucks. But it is also a time when police vigilance is stricter and carrying big consignments is a tad risky. So the bootleggers change their modus operandi and prefer to carry smaller consignments to dodge police.
"During the election period, the police become more vigilant making it difficult for the bootleggers to smuggle in large consignments to the state," a crime branch source told DNA. The source said that due to increased police presence across the state, the chances of trucks being tapped by the police are high.
A bootlegger, on the condition of anonymity, told DNA, "The demand for liquor during election period goes up considerably, but at the same time the supply is reduced drastically. So, to meet the demand we have to bring liquor through alternate modes."
Usually, the bootleggers bring the liquor in smaller consignments, of not more than 10 cartons each round (one cartoon contains 12 bottles), if the consignment is to be carried in a car. "There are smaller bootleggers who carry one or two cartons in their luggage from neighbouring states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and even Diu," the bootlegger said.
He said the price of foreign liquor or beer smuggled in the state in this manner was almost double of the normal price. "The cost of transportation per carton increases. Besides, the risk factor for the bootlegger also goes up, so it is inevitable that prices will go north," the bootlegger said.
However, the police have got a clue of the changed modus operandi of the bootleggers and have geared up the security measures to foil the latter's plans.
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