Excise Raid / Country Liquor Smuggling Busted in Bhubaneswar, Excise Dept Cracks Down

Bhubaneswar, Aug 8: In a dramatic raid reminiscent of a crime thriller, the Excise Department in Bhubaneswar seized a massive consignment of country liquor being smuggled in a milk van. The incident occurred early Saturday morning at the busy Xavier Square.

At around 5 AM, officials intercepted a van marked “Milk” that was traveling from Athgarh via Trisulia to Bhubaneswar. Instead of milk, the vehicle was loaded with 1,080 litres of country liquor, valued at approximately ₹2.16 lakh.

The accused, identified as Sheikh Islam Khan of Brahmanjharilo, was arrested on the spot. During interrogation, Khan admitted he was transporting the liquor on commission.

Also read: Declared Dead while Alive! Odisha Mother’s Battle against Sons’ Land Grab

Authorities suspect a larger network behind the operation and are investigating the source of the liquor in Athgarh, the van’s ownership, and the masterminds orchestrating the trade.

Excise SP Debasish Patel confirmed that a special team has intensified the probe to trace the supply chain and dismantle the racket. “We are determined to reach the root of this illegal trade,” he said.

The bust highlights the growing menace of illicit liquor in the capital. Officials report that hundreds of litres are being seized daily, with not only sales but also production taking place within Bhubaneswar.

Just days earlier, the Excise Department raided Salia Sahi’s IDCO colony, uncovering large‑scale brewing operations. Traditional distilleries were found operating inside homes, with bottles sold at ₹300 each, often accompanied by free snacks. The raids revealed unhygienic brewing conditions, with contaminated pots destroyed on site.

Authorities have vowed to intensify raids and clamp down on both smuggling and local brewing in Bhubaneswar.