Gorubathan: Acting on secret information, the Special Commissioner of Revenue (SCR), JED, led a decisive raid at Ghantidara, Samabeyong Tea Estate, under Gorubathan Police Station on [Insert Date], between 4:20 PM and 5:45 PM. The operation, conducted by a robust team of excise personnel and local law enforcement, resulted in the seizure of smuggled intoxicants valued at Rs. 16,30,275.
The raid was supervised by SCR, JED, with assistance from DEC Bhaktinagar, Bagdogra, IE Siliguri, and officers-in-charge of Pradhannagar, Bagdogra, and Bhaktinagar excise teams. OC Kalimpong also responded promptly, providing reinforcement with his team of constables.
Upon arrival, the team broke into a locked house where they recovered a large stockpile of Sikkim-made non-duty-paid (NDP) liquors and intoxicants, including:
-
HIT Beer: 56 cases (436.8 liters)
-
Millennium XXX Rum: 29 cases (261 liters)
-
Sikkim Liquors Rum: 10 cases (90 liters)
-
Old Monk Rum: 7 cases (63 liters)
-
Honey Bee Brandy: 6 cases and 4 bottles (57 liters)
-
Arucha Wine: 3 cases and 5 bottles (30.75 liters)
-
Bagpiper Whiskey: 4 cases (36 liters)
-
Royal Stag Whiskey: 1 case (9 liters)
-
Black Hunt Whiskey: 1 case (9 liters)
-
Emboss 50 Degree IML: 1 case (9 liters)
-
Kachi 70 Degree Up IML: 4 cases (36 liters)
In total, 122 cases of liquor were confiscated, comprising 555.75 liters of NDP foreign liquor, 436.8 liters of beer, and 45 liters of illicitly manufactured liquor (IML).
Additional items recovered from the premises included two Aadhaar cards, one bank passbook, and one identity card cum passbook.
Smuggling Route Identified Preliminary investigations suggest that the liquor was smuggled from Sikkim via the Rhenock–Kagey–Kolakham–Samabeong route, bypassing the heavily monitored Melli Excise Naka point. The Melli checkpoint has been instrumental in curbing smuggling activities in the region.
Although no arrests have been made yet, the recovered documents may help ascertain the ownership of the house and identify those responsible for the smuggling operation. Authorities have assured that all leads are being pursued, and the investigation will continue to uncover the full extent of the illegal activities.
The successful operation underscores the vigilance and coordination between excise officials and law enforcement agencies in combating smuggling in the region.
