Ahmedabad, October 25 (HS): In a major crackdown, Bopal police raided a high-profile rave party late Friday night at Zephyr Farmhouse near Shilaj in Ahmedabad, detaining around 20 foreign nationals and two Indian citizens for consuming alcohol and drugs in violation of Gujarat’s prohibition laws.

According to officials, the detainees include individuals from Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique. Police said the revellers were found under the influence of alcohol and narcotics, and all were taken to Sola Civil Hospital for medical examination.

Acting on a tip-off, police reached the farmhouse and discovered that the organisers had printed special entry passes promoting “unlimited alcohol,” indicating that the party was well-planned and commercial in nature.

“The presence of such a large number of foreign nationals has made the matter serious. A case has been registered, and we are investigating the organisers, the farmhouse owner, and the source of the liquor,” a police official said.

Under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, the sale, consumption, and manufacture of liquor are banned across the state, except under special permissions for medicinal, industrial, or export purposes. Violations carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and property seizure.

Despite the strict laws, Gujarat continues to face challenges with the illegal liquor trade. In 2024 alone, authorities seized nearly 82 lakh bottles of illicit liquor worth ₹144 crore, with Ahmedabad accounting for over 4.38 lakh bottles. The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) registered 455 cases and confiscated liquor and related materials valued at nearly ₹52 crore.

Recent large-scale seizures — including 8,500 bottles of foreign liquor worth ₹1.19 crore in Chotila and a boat carrying liquor worth ₹25 lakh off Una, Rajkot — underline the persistent smuggling networks operating from neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Police said further inquiries are underway to trace the supply chain, event financiers, and potential links to the broader illegal liquor network operating in and around Ahmedabad.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar