Smugglers' choice: Amby with beacon

A white ambassador with a red beacon - the ultimate symbol of power in India and now, the perfect vehicle for smuggling goods across borders. HT reports.

A white ambassador with a red beacon - the ultimate symbol of power in India and now, the perfect vehicle for smuggling goods across borders.

A gang of liquor smugglers hit upon this idea to get around the numerous police pickets dotting their path while ferrying their goods from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh. But their luck finally ran out on Saturday morning.

"After receiving a tip-off, pickets were placed on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway. At around 3.45am, an ambassador bearing the registration number HR 01L 9085 was stopped. Twenty-two cartons of whisky were recovered," a police officer said.

Two persons, Naresh Kumar and Monu, were arrested under the excise act. During interrogation, they said they were taking the liquor - worth Rs. 50,000 - to Bulandshahar in UP.

The whisky, procured it from a Haryana distillery, was meant for sale in Arunachal Pradesh only but the gang planned to sell it at a higher rate in UP.

"They claimed the red beacon was procured because they have to cross several borders," the officer said.

"We have sent a team to Bulandshahar. Previous records of the arrested duo are also being checked. Also, we are trying to get the ownership details of the car."