Five individuals have been apprehended for transporting illegal liquor from Faridabad to Delhi using camels along forested paths, according to an official report released on Friday. The suspects, Vinod Bhadana (48), Sunil Bhadana (38), Rahul (22), Ajay (25), and Saurabh (26), adopted this unconventional approach due to heightened surveillance on traditional smuggling routes that made vehicle transportation challenging. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankit Chauhan stated that they strategically switched to camels to navigate through wooded areas and unpaved roads between Faridabad and Delhi. By avoiding main roads and checkpoints, they aimed to transport the liquor into the capital without attracting attention.
During the operation, three camels were rescued, and authorities recovered 42 cartons containing 1,990 quarters of illegal liquor and 24 bottles of beer. The police had increased monitoring in the Sangam Vihar forest region after receiving specific intelligence regarding smuggling activities. On Thursday night, a police unit intercepted the suspects as they arrived on camels loaded with liquor. The five were taken into custody. The rescued camels will be transferred to animal welfare organizations in collaboration with the necessary authorities. Interrogations revealed that the suspects chose this unusual method to avoid police presence on main roads. Ajay and Rahul, both from Sangam Vihar, have previous offenses related to excise and theft.
Sunil and Vinod from Faridabad have also faced charges under the Delhi Excise Act. In the past two weeks alone, police have confiscated over 11,000 quarters of illegal liquor, 191 beer bottles, three cars, an auto rickshaw, and two scooters in various excise-related incidents. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the broader supply network and identify additional members involved.
