A high-stakes smuggling operation involving the illegal transportation of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) was dismantled by the Punjab Excise Department in Bathinda — marking one of the biggest seizures in recent years. In a swift and meticulously coordinated operation, officials late Thursday night seized 80,000 litres of ENA — substance often used in the production of country-made liquor, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), perfumes, and sanitizers.   The operation, spearheaded by the departments Special Operation Group (Excise) and Excise Police, culminated near Navraj Dhaba in the Kot Shamir area of Bathinda, where two Gujarat-registered ethanol tankers were intercepted and eight individuals apprehended. Two support vehicles — Toyota Etios and Toyota Innova — suspected to be part of the smuggling operation, were also seized.   Sharing the information, Punjab Finance, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday hailed the breakthrough as a major blow to the states illicit liquor mafia. He said that the arrested individuals included four residents of Bathinda, two from Uttar Pradesh, and two from Nepal. The seized ENA, sourced from the VRV Hospitality Private Limited distillery in Dinanagar (Gurdaspur), was reportedly being diverted for use in illegal liquor production and sanitizer manufacturing.   This was not just a case of transportation violation. It was an organized and strategic attempt to supply industrial-grade ethanol to illicit distillers and non-permitted manufacturers, possibly even across state borders, Cheema said. If this consignment had reached its destination, it could have been used to manufacture approximately 3.75 lakh bottles of 50-degree illicit liquor, 2.5 lakh bottles of 75-degree IMFL, or 1.1 lakh litres of sanitizer, he added.   According to officials, the seizure was made possible through GPS tracking of the tankers, which had deviated from their registered route. Originally, the consignment was marked for IOCL Bathinda, but intelligence reports suggested a detour with illicit intent. This prompted a surveillance mission, leading to the dramatic late-night bust.   The tankers bore Gujarat registration numbers — GJ06BV4926 and GJ06BV7626 — raising further suspicions that the ethanol was destined for dry states, where alcohol production and sale are banned, making the black market for ENA highly lucrative.   An FIR has been registered at Sadar Police Station, Bathinda, under sections of the Excise Act and IPC that can attract severe penalties, including life imprisonment, if the accused are convicted. Officials said that further arrests may follow as investigations deepen into the backward and forward linkages of the racket, including the possible involvement of a prominent chemical factory in Punjab.   Cheema also linked the crackdown to the state governments ongoing mission to tackle the menace of illicit liquor following recent tragedies. The Majitha hooch tragedy on May 13, which claimed more than 22 lives, was a grim reminder of how dangerous and deadly such illegal operations can be. We cannot allow this trade to flourish and claim innocent lives, he said.   In that case, the police had also seized 600 litres of methanol intended for illegal liquor manufacturing and initiated widespread raids across Patiala and surrounding areas. The recent seizure of ENA, worth crores in the illegal market, underscores the scale and sophistication of the networks involved.   We have a zero-tolerance policy towards those engaged in smuggling or manufacturing illicit liquor. We are determined to dismantle these cartels, said Cheema. Our officials are working round the clock and using a mix of technology, intelligence inputs, and field coordination to stop these dangerous substances from reaching the wrong hands.   The Minister announced that the Excise Department would carry out surprise inspections of factories and distilleries across the state over the coming days to prevent further pilferage and misuse of ethanol and other alcohol-based chemicals.   So far, under the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government, over 1.7 lakh litres of ethanol and ENA have been seized in various operations across Punjab. This is just the beginning, Cheema warned. We will continue to go after every link in this chain—be it a small-time smuggler or a high-level facilitator. Nobody will be spared.

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