Major Liquor Smuggling Operation Uncovered Along Assam-Arunachal Border
Prosecution Filed Against 19 Individuals in Liquor Smuggling Case
File image of Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office (Photo: Kiran Kumar?Google Maps)
Guwahati, Aug 1: The Guwahati Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has initiated legal proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against 19 individuals, including four key figures, linked to a significant liquor smuggling and money laundering operation along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
The individuals charged include Sanjay Dewan, Niraj Sharma, Rajan Lohia, Shankar Deb, and Sameer Mehta, along with 14 bonded warehouse entities allegedly involved in the scheme.
The ED's investigation commenced following the registration of 173 FIRs by the Assam Police in districts along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The agency claims that the accused ran a sophisticated network that produced liquor in Arunachal Pradesh and smuggled it into Assam to avoid the state's higher excise duties and VAT.
During the investigation, authorities seized over 2.63 lakh litres of liquor, valued at approximately Rs 52.77 crore, in 739 separate incidents from January 2023 to April 2026. The ED noted that these seizures represent only a small portion of the total liquor smuggled into Assam.
The agency reported that the three main accused maintained a near-monopoly over the liquor trade in Arunachal Pradesh through a network of manufacturing facilities, bonded warehouses, and wholesale and retail operations. They allegedly manipulated licenses issued to local residents, using them as proxy holders while retaining actual control and financial oversight of the businesses.
Furthermore, the ED accused the individuals of employing dummy directors and expanding production capabilities without paying the requisite duties, leading to an excess of liquor intended for illegal transport into Assam.
The agency has estimated the total proceeds of crime at around Rs 1,047.93 crore, based on cash deposits made into the accounts of nine wholesale entities.