Authorities in the Rayalaseema region have been put on high alert due to concerns about the illegal flow of liquor from Goa in the lead-up to the Telangana elections.
There are indications that various illegal distilleries in Goa and the border areas are organizing the distribution of liquor brands from different states using various modes of transportation, including trucks carrying groceries and other goods heading towards Telangana.
These vehicles need to pass through the districts of Anantapur and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh before entering Telangana.It has been reported that several leaders from these districts may be involved in the unauthorized transportation of liquor from Goa.
A former official who was part of the excise task force in the Rayalaseema region mentioned that not only locally brewed illegal liquor, but also liquor from unauthorized distilleries in Goa, might become more prevalent.
Police and excise departments have been put on alert for a potential increase in the flow of untaxed liquor from other states.
A few years ago, the Guntakal excise (SEB) wing and the police dismantled a gang that was trafficking fake-branded spurious liquor.There were suspicions about the involvement of a ZP chairman of TD from Kurnool district and his close relatives in the sale of such liquor in Kurnool district.
In one instance, a manufacturing unit near Goa concealed spurious liquor beneath loads of biscuit cartons.The gang supplied untaxed liquor under various fake labels of Andhra Pradesh brands.
Although liquor prices were lower in Telangana compared to Andhra Pradesh, the smuggling of untaxed liquor from distilleries in Goa was suspected to be flowing through the Rayalaseema region to Mahabubnagar in Telangana.
The SEB in Anantapur, along with the police, has intensified checks at border posts to prevent the entry of untaxed liquor across borders.
SEB officials have emphasized vigilance at all checkpoints to intercept any potential flow of liquor from the Goa border.
Anantapur SP Anburajan has directed border police and SEB to take active measures to curb the flow of such liquor from unauthorized distilleries in other states.
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