Delhi police bust camel smugglers hauling illegal liquor into the city
Delhi police have arrested a man for smuggling alcohol into the city using camels. The operation involved five men transporting illegal liquor along forest paths between Faridabad and Delhi. Authorities seized 1,938 containers of untaxed alcohol during the investigation.
However, claims of camel usage for alcohol smuggling in the Delhi region lack documented evidence in recent years. Common smuggling methods in India typically involve vehicles, trains, drones, or human carriers, according to law enforcement records up to 2026.
The smugglers allegedly moved the contraband at night, covering a four-mile stretch through forest routes. By avoiding highways and checkpoints, they relied on camels to carry the liquor into Delhi. Once inside the city, the alcohol was offloaded and distributed using bicycle rickshaws.
This was not the first time these camels had been linked to smuggling. Police records show they were stopped last year for the same offence. After the latest seizure, the animals were handed over to the Delhi SPCA shelter. Bootleggers often sell cheap, untaxed liquor to low-income communities. Some batches are spiked with methanol, a toxic substance that has caused hundreds of deaths across India in recent years. The illegal trade thrives due to high taxes on legal alcohol and weak enforcement in certain areas.
The arrested suspect now faces charges related to smuggling and tax evasion. The seized liquor will be destroyed, and the camels remain in the care of animal welfare authorities. While camel smuggling remains rare, the case highlights ongoing challenges with illegal alcohol trade and public health risks in the region.
