Karwar: Excise Department officials seized 833 litres Goan liquor, worth Rs 2.16 lakh, which was being transported illegally in fish transporting vehicles on Tuesday night.

A small compartment had been created behind the driver’s compartment in the trucks where the liquor bottles were kept in bags. The compartment was then concealed using metal sheets. To cover that, a few fibre baskets meant to carry fish were kept. With all the arrangement done, it was difficult to make out that liquor was being transported illegally.

The illegality came to light when two vehicles were subjected to through checking at Shirwad.

As many as 138 boxes of Goa Brandy, whiskey and fenni were being carried in the vehicle.

The total worth of the liquor and vehicles carrying them is Rs 11 lakh, officers said.

The vehicles belonged to Deepak Mahanand Nayak of Shirwad and Suresh Ram Patgar of Honnavar.

Assistant Commissioner of Excise L A Manjunath said that the accused will soon be arrested.

Excise Department DySP Millar D’Souza and his team conducted the raid.