Acting on intelligence inputs from the Assam Excise Department, the Meghalaya Excise Department in Ri-Bhoi conducted raids at two suspected illegal liquor bottling units on Sunday.
During the raid, which took place at around 1:30pm, one of the locations, near the Shillong Bypass at Umiam, was found to have been engaging in illegal activity, while the second, at the Umiam Industrial Complex, yielded no findings.
The joint Assam-Meghalaya operation followed the interception of an Assam-registered truck (AS 11AC 9144) at Khanapara. The seizure led authorities to uncover a large-scale illegal liquor manufacturing unit in Umiam.
Addressing the media at his office here, Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Excise, RC Lyngdoh, confirmed the bust of the illegal bottling unit near the Shillong Bypass. The operation was carried out in coordination with Umiam Police Station.
During the raid, officials recovered a range of equipment and materials used in the illegal operation, including blending tags, a storage tank, a capping machine, production lines, flavouring and colouring agents and counterfeit holograms of Assam and Meghalaya. Additionally, whisky bottles bearing the logos of brands such as OC, OC Blue, Royal Stag and McDowell’s No.1 – amounting to approximately 23,000 bottles – were seized from the site, he stated.
He also informed that the Excise Department also confiscated excise labels from both Meghalaya and Assam, along with empty bottles and cartons. All recovered items have been seized as evidence.
Lyngdoh further stated that, following the bust, the identity of those behind the illegal operation remains unknown. Efforts are underway to gather information from the headman of Nongsder village. Investigations are ongoing and further legal action will be pursued.
