Bhubaneswar : Residents of Bhubaneswar were left astonished when Excise officials uncovered a massive cache of illegal country liquor concealed in an unlikely location during a late Friday enforcement operation. What began as a routine inspection soon turned into a startling discovery when authorities found hundreds of litres of alcohol stored inside a recently built septic tank.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the enforcement team conducted coordinated surprise raids across several localities, including Chandrasekharpur, Mancheswar, and Infocity, which are known hotspots for underground liquor trade. During the operation, officials noticed suspicious activity near a residential premises, prompting them to carry out a closer search.
According to preliminary findings, a group of individuals attempted to destroy evidence by pouring the liquor into the septic pit on noticing the arrival of the officials. However, officers, suspecting foul play, decided to open the tank. To their disbelief, they found the chamber brimming with plastic containers and makeshift packets filled with country-made alcohol.
A total of 540 litres was recovered from the concealed storage, indicating the scale of the illegal operation. Five persons allegedly involved in the racket were taken into custody on the spot. Officials have confirmed that a formal case has been registered under relevant sections of the Excise Act, and further investigation is in progress to identify the main suppliers and distribution network.
Officials stated that such concealment methods reveal the growing desperation of bootleggers attempting to bypass law enforcement. The peculiar incident has generated considerable attention among city dwellers, as the unconventional hiding technique reflects the extreme lengths taken by offenders to evade detection.
The Excise Department reiterated its commitment to intensify surveillance and crack down on unlawful liquor trade to safeguard public health and maintain law and order across the capital. Authorities urged residents to cooperate by reporting suspicious activities and assured swift action against those involved in illegal alcohol distribution.
Senior officials noted that raids would continue across sensitive zones and vulnerable neighbourhoods in the coming days to prevent similar practices from reoccurring. They emphasized that strict monitoring and coordinated intelligence gathering remain crucial in breaking the nexus between local peddlers, transporters, and organised syndicates operating behind the scenes of the illegal liquor business in and around Bhubaneswar. Such operations reinforce the administration’s resolve to ensure compliance.
