Siliguri, 31st December: Ahead of the New Year, a major liquor smuggling racket was busted in Siliguri. Acting on a tip-off, police from Bhakti Nagar police station carried out a raid and seized foreign liquor worth several lakhs of rupees that was being transported from Sikkim. The driver of the goods-laden truck has been arrested in connection with the case.
The arrested driver has been identified as Abhishek Vishwakarma, a resident of Rangpo in Sikkim. According to police sources, on the night of 30th December, a large consignment of foreign liquor of different brands was being brought from Sikkim to Siliguri, concealed inside cartons in a goods truck.
Before the vehicle could enter Siliguri, Bhakti Nagar police intercepted the Sikkim-registered truck near a check post on suspicion. During the search, eight cartons of Sikkim-made foreign liquor were recovered from the truck. Police said the market value of the seized liquor is estimated to be in lakhs of rupees.
When asked to produce valid documents, the driver failed to provide any. He was subsequently arrested on charges of illegal liquor smuggling. A case has been registered under the Bengal Excise Act, and the accused will be produced before the Jalpaiguri court on Wednesday.