Jamnagar, April 9 (AHN) The Local Crime Branch (LCB) in Gujarat's Jamnagar district seized a large consignment of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth nearly Rs 1.4 crore and arrested a truck driver after intercepting a vehicle on the Jamnagar-Rajkot highway, officials said on Thursday.​

The operation was carried out late at night by the LCB near the Jambuda village junction, following specific intelligence inputs.​

Officers stopped a closed-body Bharat Benz truck found in suspicious circumstances and, upon searching it, recovered 29,243 bottles of liquor of various sizes.​

The consignment has been valued at approximately Rs 1,39,79,800.​

The driver, identified as Raju alias Devo Mori (30), a resident of Adityana village in Porbandar district, was arrested at the scene.​

Police said preliminary questioning indicated that the consignment had been ordered by Karshan Kodiyatar of Ranavav and Dudabhai Kodiyatar of Bhanvad.​

Both men, along with an unidentified supplier, have been named as accused and are currently absconding.​

"The unidentified supplier is known to Karshan. We are in the process of tracking," officials said.​

According to officials, the total value of the seized property, including the liquor, the truck estimated at Rs 20 lakh, and a mobile phone worth Rs 5,000, amounts to Rs 1,59,84,800.​

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Prohibition Act at Panchkoshi A-Division police station, and further investigation has been taken up.​

"Based on specific information, the vehicle was intercepted, and a large quantity of IMFL was recovered. One individual has been arrested, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused,” officials noted.​

The investigation is continuing to ascertain the origin of the consignment, the route of transportation, and the intended recipients in Jamnagar.​

Police are also examining the extent of the interstate network involved in supplying liquor into the state, where prohibition laws are in force.​