Senapati Police Seize Major Illegal Liquor Shipment

Imphal: Senapati police intercepted a massive haul of illegal booze late Friday night. Officers hit a residence in Kathikho Karong village following a tip about smuggling near the Manipur-Nagaland border. The operation took place near the Senapati Drop Gate on National Highway-2, the main artery between Imphal and Dimapur.

Police searched the home of 38-year-old Rokhu, a resident of Phaibung Khullen village. They found 40 total cases of alcohol stashed without the required legal paperwork. The haul included 23 cases of Kingfisher Beer, seven cases of Old Monk rum, five cases of McDowell's, three cases of Iconiq White, and one case each of Tuborg Beer and Breezer.

Officers booked the case and moved the booze to the Senapati Excise Department. Police stated, "The operation was part of an intensified drive to curb illicit trade and strengthen enforcement across the district." Authorities noted the bust happened while Manipur works through shifts in its liquor policy. Although the state recently loosened the 1991 prohibition law, sales stay strictly limited to designated zones, tourist spots, and large registered hotels. Transporting alcohol outside these specific areas remains a crime.