Bootleggers in Surat are stocking liquor at their godowns to meet the year-end party rush. The prices of bootlegged liquor are also seeing an upward trend with the bootleggers offering customers the option of door delivery,among others. Though authorities maintain that a strict vigil is on in view of this years Ahmedabad hooch tragedy smuggling continues from the neighbouring states and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu,to Tapi,Surat,Valsad,Navsari,Bharuch and Vaodadra districts. People involved with the racket say bootleggers generally use trucks,cars,buses and rail to smuggle liquor,though the big traffickers are now using the sea route. A Daman-based bootlegger said on condition of anonymity: We load cartons of liquor bottles in a big ship and the unloading is done mid-sea. The local bootleggers reach the ship on their individual boats and return with their stock. This is the safest mode to smuggle liquor. Elsewhere,the price of bootlegged liquor has reached almost double,but the demand has also gone up over last year. A bootlegger in Surat said on condition of anonymity: This is the peak season (year-end) in the business and the sales are the highest. We stock IMFL bottles from the first week of December to meet the demand of the last 15 days and also to maintain the daily local supply. He added: We take risks by delivering liquor to the customers at their home,office or any other place of their choice and charge high rates for the same. The dealers give us a one-month period for the December sale and the payment is made in January. Elsewhere,Prevention of Crime Branch officer R V Rabari said: We will start the prohibition drive from December 24 onwards at various places. BJP leader Sukha Rathod and Shahrukh have been arrested while Michel and other major suppliers from Daman have gone underground. Besides,there are many small players in Daman. He added: We have installed check-posts on the entry and exit points at Surat. The police inspectors have also been alerted by the police commissioner.
