By The News Observer Desk,
KARWAR: In a swift late-night crackdown, excise officials in Karwar have busted an attempt to smuggle liquor into Goa using an expired transit permit, seizing 1,200 cartons of liquor and the vehicle carrying it — all worth an estimated ₹35.5 lakh.
The operation took place under the direction of the Joint Commissioner (Enforcement and Investigation), Mangalore division, and the guidance of the Uttara Kannada district Excise Deputy Commissioner. Around 11:55 pm, the excise sub-inspector at the Majali checkpost and his team were carrying out routine vehicle checks on National Highway 66 when they flagged down a Karnataka-registered truck bearing the number KA-06 B-6025.
The lorry was heading from Karnataka towards Goa. When officers examined the documents, they discovered that the import-export transit permit had expired on March 10, 2026 — just days earlier. This clear violation of the Karnataka Excise Act and rules triggered the seizure.
Officials immediately took custody of the entire consignment of 1,200 cartons of liquor along with the vehicle. A panchnama was drawn up right there on the spot. The case has now been handed over to the Excise Deputy Superintendent, Karwar sub-division, for further investigation and legal action.
The excise department confirmed the details in a statement, saying the drive was part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal liquor transportation across the Karnataka-Goa border.
Reporting and Videography by Saikiran Babrekar
