A major seizure of illicit liquor worth around ₹60 lakh was made at Dhargal in Pernem after a truck caught fire on Tuesday, exposing a smuggling racket involving tampered vehicle details and fake number plates.
Firefighters rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the blaze. During operations, officials broke open the truck’s sealed container and discovered 1,286 boxes of liquor hidden inside.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the truck owner and driver had allegedly tampered with the vehicle’s chassis and affixed fake registration plates to evade detection. Following a manhunt, police tracked down and arrested the driver in Gujarat.
Authorities have launched a probe into the source and intended destination of the liquor consignment. The seizure is valued at approximately ₹60 lakh, police said.