Booze on Camelback: Delhi Police Uncover Wild Smuggling Route

In a bizarre yet ingenious plot, Delhi Police have dismantled a sophisticated liquor smuggling operation that utilized camels to transport illicit alcohol through the dense, unforgiving forest routes bordering Haryana and Rajasthan, directly into the heart of the capital. This audacious scheme, seemingly ripped from a desert adventure novel, saw the ancient mode of transport pressed into modern-day crime, all to exploit the significant price disparity of liquor between neighboring states.

The crackdown by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch led to the apprehension of two key operatives, Deepak and Raj Kumar, near the Fatehpur Beri forest area.

Their capture followed a precise tip-off regarding a large consignment of illicit liquor being smuggled into Delhi. Police had learned that the gang was planning to use this stash to influence voters during upcoming local body elections in the capital, making the bust all the more critical.

Investigations revealed the gang’s highly unusual modus operandi.

They would procure vast quantities of alcohol from Haryana, where excise duties are considerably lower than in Delhi. Instead of direct road transport, which is heavily monitored, they chose a more circuitous and difficult path: through the rugged, often inaccessible forest terrain. Camels, known for their resilience and ability to navigate harsh landscapes, were employed to carry the liquor across the Haryana-Rajasthan border, venturing through uncharted forest paths.

Once the camels had traversed the challenging wilderness and reached the rural outskirts of Delhi, the illicit cargo would be transferred onto vehicles, typically SUVs or pick-up trucks.

These vehicles would then distribute the alcohol to various parts of the city. This multi-stage transportation system made it incredibly difficult for law enforcement to track and intercept the consignments.

The police operation was meticulously planned. Acting on intelligence, a dedicated team set up a strategic trap near the suspected transfer point.

Their patience paid off when they intercepted a vehicle attempting to move a significant quantity of the smuggled booze. The subsequent arrests of Deepak and Raj Kumar unveiled the full extent of this camel-assisted criminal enterprise.

This isn't an isolated incident, nor is it the first time camels have been implicated in cross-border smuggling.

Historically, these 'ships of the desert' have been used for transporting various contraband, including narcotics, in border regions due to their ability to operate in areas inaccessible to conventional vehicles. The Delhi Police bust serves as a stark reminder of the lengths criminals will go to circumvent laws and exploit geographical advantages, highlighting the ongoing challenge faced by authorities in curbing such innovative smuggling tactics.