The Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday saw sharp exchanges over illegal liquor transportation, after Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas raised the June incident involving an abandoned Nagaland-registered truck loaded with liquor worth lakhs, which caught fire on a highway.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant admitted that entry records of the truck were missing and assured strict action, including suspension of the excise inspector concerned and sealing of the factory if it’s confirmed the consignment originated there. He also said the government was considering new measures such as holograms on bottles and tighter checks at border posts to curb illegal trade.
Viegas demanded immediate suspension of officials involved, highlighting that the liquor had no permit and that the driver and cleaner had fled.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva questioned whether illicit liquor trade was thriving under the department’s watch.
Meanwhile, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar asked if the seized liquor was counterfeit — a claim the Chief Minister denied.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao pointed out that 1,395 violations had been detected, yet action was initiated against only two inspectors. He criticized the Excise Department for merely issuing show-cause notices without follow-up.
Aldona MLA Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira called it a growing scam, stressing that excise inspectors posted at factories are responsible for monitoring both raw materials and outbound consignments.
Responding to Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, the Chief Minister confirmed that the truck’s entry was not recorded at the border check-post. To a separate concern raised by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, he assured that a check-post would be set up at Latambarsem, a known smuggling route into Maharashtra.