The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are witnessing a worrying surge in illegal liquor trade, with police recording three major seizures within just a few days. The recent operations suggest that illicit alcohol networks are spreading across both urban and rural areas, raising alarm about the scale and coordination of the trade.
The first incident occurred on September 12 near the Marine Dockyard in Sri Vijaya Puram. During a patrol, police intercepted a man carrying a heavy bag whose suspicious behavior drew attention. Upon inspection, the bag was found to contain 48 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), each of 750 ml capacity. The liquor was seized on the spot, marking another case of possession and transport of alcohol in restricted areas without legal permits.
Just two days later, on September 14, the focus shifted to the interiors of Middle Andaman. Based on intelligence inputs, a police team carried out a raid in Kadamtala, a rural region often considered outside the immediate spotlight of enforcement activity. The operation uncovered multiple cartons of liquor bottles being moved without valid documentation, indicating a systematic effort to push liquor into smaller local markets. The raid highlighted how the illegal supply chain is extending beyond urban centers into remote parts of the islands.
Later the same day, on September 14, another seizure took place at Uttara and Shantanu in Middle Andaman. During routine surveillance, police detected suspicious movements and subsequently discovered several containers filled with liquor of varying brands and volumes. The swift follow-up action revealed a coordinated supply pattern, suggesting an organised network rather than isolated offenders.
The back-to-back seizures across distant points in the islands reflect an expanding underground market for liquor. While possession, storage and sale of alcohol without valid permits are prohibited, the seizures demonstrate how such rules are being flouted in both city hubs like Sri Vijaya Puram and rural stretches such as Kadamtala and Uttara.
Police and excise authorities have intensified raids, surveillance and patrolling in response to the spike. Officials said that strict enforcement of the law remains the primary tool to curb the menace. However, the recurrence of cases across scattered locations suggests that enforcement measures alone may not be sufficient to dismantle the network supplying the black market.
The growing trade has broader social and legal implications. Easy access to illicit liquor not only undermines regulatory efforts but also risks fueling other forms of criminal activity. Authorities fear that unchecked circulation of alcohol could disrupt public order, affect community well-being and put additional strain on law enforcement agencies already engaged in maintaining security across the geographically scattered islands.
The repeated incidents this month have brought the issue into sharp focus. The seizures on September 12 and 14 underline the need for sustained vigilance and stronger coordination between excise, police and intelligence units. Officials acknowledge that dismantling supply chains will require targeting not just carriers and storage points but also the networks orchestrating distribution across different parts of the islands.
Community leaders have voiced concern over the persistence of the illegal trade, calling for a more comprehensive strategy that goes beyond reactive enforcement. As long as demand exists and distribution networks adapt quickly, raids alone may not yield long-term results. Combining enforcement with awareness campaigns and community participation could help reduce the lure of illicit liquor while empowering citizens to resist and report unlawful activity.
For now, the series of seizures demonstrates both the reach of the illegal trade and the determination of enforcement agencies to contain it. Whether the crackdown can translate into lasting control over the underground liquor market remains to be seen. The recent developments have nonetheless spotlighted an urgent challenge for the administration as it seeks to balance law enforcement with social stability across the islands.
