Hyderabad: Four Arrested for Smuggling Duty-Free Liquor
The Prohibition and Excise District Task Force in Hyderabad has arrested four individuals, including two policemen, for allegedly smuggling duty-free liquor from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Shamshabad. The liquor was being supplied illegally to the market.
The arrested individuals have been identified as M. Gemya Naik (37), a constable; Bhandari Lingaiah (36), a home guard; P. Raghavendra Rao (36), a hotel manager; and G. Harish Kumar (36). Investigations revealed that the group had formed a syndicate to carry out the smuggling operation.
According to officials, Gemya Naik purchased liquor from the duty-free shop at the airport with the help of his associates. The gang would smuggle the liquor out during busy hours or VIP visits, avoiding detection. They then sold the liquor to regular customers in the city.
Acting on a tip-off, Prohibition and Excise teams monitored their activities and eventually caught them. Liquor worth Rs. 15 lakh was seized from the group. While the four men have been arrested and presented before the court, one of their associates, identified as Maheshwar, is currently on the run. Efforts are underway to locate and arrest him.
