KOLHAPUR: The flying squad of Kolhapur division office of state excise department conducted a raid on a vehicle at Utsali village in Chandgad taluka and arrested a man for allegedly transporting India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 9 lakh and seized it.The arrested suspect has been identified as Pradeep Vishnu Bagadi (21), a resident of Kenchewadi, Chandgad taluka."We routinely patrol the routes leading to Kolhapur from Goa and Karnataka states, bordering to the district, to keep a check on transport of liquor that is illegal. Several flying squads have been appointed for this purpose and we also act on the information provided by our sources. On Wednesday, we got information from sources that a tempo travelling to Kolhapur will be containing IMFL. Following this, special instructions were given to officials on duty to keep a check on the road," said a senior excise official."On Wednesday afternoon a tempo arrived at Utsali village on Goa-Kolhapur Road . Suspecting the behaviour of the tempo driver, the excise officials stopped him and enquired about the material that he was carrying with him. After checking the tempo, it was found that he was carrying 160 boxes of IMFL without permission. We seized his vehicle and the IMFL, all amounting to Rs 11 lakh from him," he said."There is huge a difference between the price of IMFL in Maharashtra as compared to Goa. It is available at a cheaper rate in Goa. The trade of selling Goa-made liquor in Maharashtra is profitable business and lots of people are involved in it. We will investigate with the suspect to find out who all were involved with him in this business," he said.

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