Delhi Police has seized around 5,000 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from different parts of the city since it launched a special drive to check its smuggling in the run up to the general elections.

According to police, smugglers are purchasing liquor from Haryana on a large scale in view of its high demand ahead of the polls, scheduled to be held on April 10 in Delhi.

Delhi Police launched the drive few days after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule on March 5 and have so far seized around 5,000 quarters of illicit liquor and taken action against over 25 people.

“Keeping in view the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, extra vigil is being maintained at all districts to intercept people indulging in sale of illicit liquor. Intelligence gathering mechanism has also been geared up and pickets at strategic locations have been strengthened,” a senior police officer said.

Besides monitoring activities of political leaders, the officer said informers have been asked to get active to check distribution of liquor among voters.

After purchasing liquor from Haryana, most liquor smugglers enter Delhi via Badarpur Border, Delhi-Sonepat Border and Tikri Border. Minors and women are also involved in liquor smuggling.

On March 13, police apprehended a juvenile in Mundka area of west district and recovered two cartons of illicit liquor containing 90 quarter bottles of Haryana-made liquor.

Police of the West district on March 11 arrested a woman from Ranhola area and recovered 98 quarter bottles of Haryana-made liquor.

“After her arrest, the woman told police that she had purchased liquor from Bahadurgarh area of Haryana with an intention to sell the same at a higher price in Delhi,” a senior police official said.