In preparation for the upcoming assembly elections, the Bihar Police’s Prohibition Unit is undertaking extensive measures to combat illegal liquor activities. The focus is on curbing cross-border smuggling and prosecuting those involved. To this end, 390 checkpoints are being established across 23 border districts within Bihar. Plans are also in place to set up 161 more checkpoints in adjacent districts of other states, as revealed by ADG (Prohibition) Amit Kumar Jain during a recent press briefing.
ADG Jain highlighted that smuggled liquor primarily originates from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh. The police are seeking collaboration from their counterparts in these states to take appropriate actions. Investigations are utilizing batch numbers and QR codes from seized liquor to pinpoint culpable retailers and wholesalers.
A total of 305 individuals from other states involved in liquor prohibition violations have been identified. This list is being shared with the respective state authorities to facilitate stringent actions. Furthermore, 240 people involved in the illegal liquor trade have been targeted under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS). Cases against 76 individuals have been submitted to the court, with ongoing actions against the remaining individuals.
As of June this year, 8,546 individuals involved in liquor smuggling or illegal trade have been added to the ‘goonda register.’ Additionally, 1,394 individuals were identified as regular drinkers and 1,344 were banished from the district. Since April 2016, when prohibition was enacted, the police have arrested 13,921 liquor traders from outside Bihar.
Special operation teams are conducting regular raids, leading to significant seizures. By July of this year, 522,096 liters of illegal liquor have been recovered. These teams are recovering approximately 75,000 liters of liquor monthly, a 12% increase compared to the previous year’s average of 67,000 liters per month in 2024. The Prohibition Unit has conducted 19 out-of-state operations, with Jharkhand seeing 7, Uttar Pradesh 10, and Chhattisgarh 2.
Under the prohibition law, 9 individuals have been sentenced to death. Moreover, 18 received life imprisonment, 222 received sentences exceeding 10 years, 935 received sentences ranging from 2 to 10 years, and 621 received sentences of less than 2 years. From April 2016 to July 3, 2025, a total of 536,921 cases were registered, resulting in 640,379 individuals being sentenced across various categories.
From April 2016 to June 2025, the state has seized a total of 26,896,955 liters of illegal liquor, comprising 10,006,024 liters of country liquor and 16,790,931 liters of foreign liquor. Approximately 97% of the seized liquor has been destroyed.