Premium Labels, Cheap Spirit: Muzaffarnagar Police Bust Massive 6-State Fake Liquor Racket
Seven arrested as Muzaffarnagar police dismantle a massive fake liquor racket operating across six states, selling cheap alcohol as premium brands.
In a major blow to the illegal alcohol trade, the Muzaffarnagar City Kotwali Police, working in tandem with the Special Operations Group (SOG), have successfully dismantled a sophisticated Muzaffarnagar counterfeit liquor racket. The operation, executed on Sunday, October 25, 2026, uncovered a sprawling syndicate that was deceiving consumers across six different states by passing off low-grade alcohol as high-end premium brands.
The Sting Operation
The crackdown occurred during a routine inspection near the railway line bridge at Rampur Tiraha. Law enforcement officials managed to apprehend seven suspects in a swift operation. Among those taken into custody, two individuals were identified as residents of the Panipat district in Haryana.
This operation was carried out under the strategic leadership of SSP Suraj Kumar Rai, serving as part of an intensified campaign to eliminate the illegal manufacture, smuggling, and sale of illicit alcohol in the region.
The Modus Operandi: From Scrap to 'Premium'
According to ASP Siddharth K. Mishra, the gang operated a highly calculated system to maximize profits. The syndicate sourced low-cost liquor, primarily from Haryana and reportedly Chandigarh, purchasing it at a bulk cost of approximately ₹2,250.
The deception happened in the packaging phase:
- Sourcing Bottles: The gang acquired empty bottles of world-renowned premium brands, including Jameson, Black Label, and Red Label, from scrap dealers.
- Professional Finishing: Using professional sealing machinery and counterfeit wrappers, the group repackaged the cheap liquor to look identical to the original luxury products.
- Massive Price Hike: While the actual cost of the liquor was only around ₹200-250 per bottle, the gang marketed these fakes as genuine, selling them for as much as ₹3,000 per bottle.
A Massive Seizure
During the raids, the police recovered a significant amount of evidence and contraband used in the operation. The seized items include:
- 210 bottles of illicit liquor ready for sale.
- 99 empty premium bottles.
- 398 bottle caps and four sets of counterfeit wrappers.
- Professional packing equipment.
- Five mobile phones used for coordinating the trade.
- Three vehicles used for transport: a Tata Nexon, a Swift Dzire, and a WagonR.
Inter-State Reach and Economic Impact
Investigations have revealed the staggering scale of the network. The gang did not limit its operations to a single city but had established a distribution chain spanning six states: Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Gujarat.
Authorities emphasized that this racket was a double-edged sword; not only did it defraud unsuspecting customers who believed they were purchasing luxury spirits, but it also caused substantial losses to the state's excise revenue by bypassing legal taxes and regulations.