Four held for smuggling liquor worth Rs 14.35 lakh from Goa to Mangaluru

Four held for smuggling liquor worth Rs 14.35 lakh from Goa to Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Nov 12, 2026: Four people have been arrested for allegedly transporting liquor illegally from Goa to Mangaluru without valid permits. Police seized 2,583 litres of liquor worth approximately Rs 14.35 lakh and two vehicles during an operation near the Hejamady toll plaza on National Highway 66 on Wednesday.

Acting on credible information received by Kaup Circle Inspector Ajmath Ali, Padubidri police conducted the operation near Hejamady in Kaup taluk, within the jurisdiction of Padubidri Police Station.

During the operation, police intercepted a vehicle allegedly carrying liquor from Goa to Mangaluru and another vehicle suspected of escorting it. Four people were arrested in connection with the case.

The arrested have been identified as Vinay (47) of Kinnar village, Karwar; Gajanan Mahabaleshwar Naik (45) of Nandgada, Karwar taluk; Sujith Talekere (25) of Amadahalli, Karwar; and Lawrence Thomas Mendonca (49) of Shirwad village, Karwar.

Police seized 2,583 litres of liquor valued at Rs 14.35 lakh, a pickup vehicle worth approximately Rs 5 lakh and a car valued at Rs 3 lakh. The total value of the seized property is estimated at Rs 22.35 lakh.

A case has been registered at Padubidri Police Station under Sections 32, 34 and 38A of the Karnataka Excise Act and Section 336(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Police said that Vinay had previously faced cases under the Excise Act at Chitakula Police Station, Karwar Rural Police Station and the Excise Police Station in Karwar district.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Karkala Sub-Division Assistant Superintendent of Police Ishita Gupta and led by Kaup Circle Inspector Ajmath Ali.

The team included Padubidri Police Station Sub-Inspectors Shaktivelu E (Law and Order) and Anil Kumar T Naik (Investigation), members of the crime detection team, and personnel from Kaup, Ajekar, Cyber Crime and Padubidri police stations, along with a member of the CDR unit.