The Maharashtra Police has also increased vigil on as many as 12 checkpoints.
With an aim to prevent smuggling of liquor during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-necessitated nationwide lockdown, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has now sealed its borders with all the neighbouring states and has deployed adequate manpower at around a dozen checkpoints, an official said on Friday.
The aforementioned step has been taken by the excise department as the possibilities of liquor smuggling by inter-state organised syndicates have increased in Maharashtra.
The excise department has deployed its flying squads and vigilance teams in districts located along the borders with the neighbouring states considering the threat from such syndicates.
To keep a check on such activities, the Maharashtra Police has increased vigil on as many as 12 checkpoints and has therefore sealed borders with adjoining states, the official said.
The excise department, along with the local police, will strictly look into the matter as the state witnesses higher demand for liquor.
In the last 50 days, at least 2,100 persons have been arrested so far in such cases and liquor worth Rs 12.03 crore has been seized.
Since the lockdown came into force, 4,800 cases registered and 425 vehicles seized in connection with liquor smuggling and illegal liquor transport in Maharashtra.
In India, the state of Maharashtra has emerged as the epicenter of coronavirus spread where the number of cases, having crossed the 18,000-mark with more than 600 deaths, witnessed a massive spike recently. According to the Health Ministry, Maharashtra has the highest number of cases with 18,120 instances.
Notably, Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, has become the hotbed of the coronavirus spread in the state. One of the real challenges in Mumbai is controlling the disease contamination in Asia's biggest slum -- Dharavi, which is an extremely densely-populated region.
Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in India crossed the 56,000-mark on Friday, while the death toll has already topped the 1,800-mark as well.
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