Bihar liquor seizures rise 11% in first 5 months of 2026

The Bihar Police on Monday said liquor seizures in the dry state rose by 11 per cent in the first five months of 2026, with more than 17.5 lakh litres of alcohol worth nearly Rs 141 crore seized during the period.

According to a statement issued by the Police Headquarters, a total of 56,904 persons were apprehended between January and May this year in connection with the liquor seizures.

An average of 3,50,677 litres of liquor were seized per month between January and May this year, compared to 3,14,610 litres per month during the corresponding period in 2025, it said.

The total seizure till May stood at 17,53,333 litres, comprising 8,01,537 litres of country-made liquor and 9,51,796 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).

The estimated value of the confiscated liquor is Rs 140.95 crore, the statement said.

The increase in seizures has been attributed to enhanced surveillance and stricter enforcement of prohibition laws across the state, where the sale and consumption of alcohol have been banned since 2016.

For comparison, police seized a total of 37,75,321 litres of liquor during 2025, including 18,74,308 litres of country-made liquor and 19,01,013 litres of IMFL, valued at Rs 293.58 crore.

While 56,904 persons were apprehended between January and May this year, 1,25,575 people were arrested in 2025.

Of those arrested in 2026, 19,877 were allegedly involved in liquor trade and supply, while 37,027 were booked as consumers, the statement said.

Authorities have also initiated legal proceedings against 127 individuals accused of amassing assets through the illegal liquor trade, with proposals sent to courts for confiscation of their properties.

Drugs seized till May this year included 21,024.37 kg of ganja, 54.048 kg of charas, 51.9 kg of heroin, brown sugar and smack, and 59.351 kg of opium.

Police also confiscated 9,06,907 tablets and capsules, 3,45,309 injections and 2,82,960 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup during the period.

Action under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act has been initiated against 89 alleged narcotics traffickers, the statement added.