Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant crackdown on excise duty evasion, Goa Excise authorities have intercepted an illegal consignment of premium liquor brands allegedly smuggled into the state by a Haryana-based distribution firm.
The seizure, valued at around ₹75 lakh, could have caused revenue losses exceeding ₹1 crore had the operation gone undetected.
The bust occurred at the Patradevi checkpost when a truck bearing Haryana registration was stopped for inspection.
The vehicle was falsely declared to be carrying a consignment “for Customs,” but officials found retail-sized bottles—mostly 750 ml or less—instead of the 1-litre bottles mandated for duty-free or customs-bound shipments.
The irregularity raised red flags, prompting the temporary detention of the truck driver and the launch of a wider investigation.
Follow-up raids conducted at a warehouse in Alto Pilerne revealed that the seized stock had no valid excise permits, labels, or clearance documentation.
Officials believe this may have been the company’s first attempt to illegally supply liquor into Goa, likely targeting the state’s thriving tourist retail market.
The Excise Department has since issued a show-cause notice to the company and is contemplating suspension of its wholesale license in the state.
Investigators are also probing the possibility of the consignment being part of a larger network exploiting interstate tax disparities—especially from Haryana, known for its lower liquor duties and frequent links to illicit bottling and black-market operations.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to tightening enforcement and curbing tax evasion in the state’s alcohol trade. Further action is expected pending the outcome of the investigation.
