CHANDIGARH, July 12 —Against illicit liquor trade, the Excise Department seized over 2,500 cases of liquor during a late-night raid on an unlicensed godown in the Daria area on Thursday. The haul included 2,090 cases of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 413 cases of country liquor, all stored without valid documentation.
According to officials, the warehouse — operational for the past four months — had no licence or approval from the Excise Department. A formal complaint was filed with the Industrial Area (Phase I) police, detailing the absence of transport permits, registration documents, or legal barcodes on the liquor cartons.
“The godown was not registered with the department, and the entire stock was being stored and possibly distributed illegally,” an Excise official said.
The raid also revealed two vehicles at the site — one inside the premises bearing a Haryana registration, and another parked just outside with Himachal Pradesh plates. Both vehicles have been taken into custody for further examination.
Suspicion deepened after officers discovered that barcodes on the liquor cartons had been deliberately removed, an apparent attempt to erase sourcing information. Preliminary checks also indicated that the liquor stock bore markings from four separate bottling units, raising the possibility of unauthorised distribution or brand counterfeiting.
A forensic team reached the scene early Friday morning to collect samples for testing and to determine the authenticity and quality of the seized alcohol.
Police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the liquor, identify individuals or networks involved in the operation, and determine whether the stock was being supplied within Chandigarh or across state lines.
Authorities have not ruled out links to a larger interstate racket, and further action is expected in the coming days based on forensic and logistical findings.
