Rajbiraj, April 8

Police today made public six persons amid a press meet in District Police Office, Saptari.

The six were arrested when they were preparing to transport liquor worth 10 lakh from Bardahi of Belhi Chapena Rural Municipality in Saptari to the Indian side last night.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team deployed from DPO led by Inspector Hemanta Bhandari had arrested them. The arrested have been identified as Santosh Kumar Singh, 40 of the rural municipality; and Pawan Yadav, 26, Mukesh Mandal, 26, Birendra Sah, 25, Baiju Mandal, 28, and Surendra Yadav, 29, of Chhatapur Gram Panchyat, India.

Police also seized alcohol worth Rs 10 lakh and six motorcycles used for transporting the liquor. The arrested, along with the seized alcohol and motorcycles were sent to Rajbiraj Customs Office for further investigation, police said.

The smugglers were taking advantage of the open border after Bihar State placed a ban on sale and consumption of alcohol, said Inspector Bhandari. He added the smugglers supplied alcohol to Indian markets using cycles and motorcycles at night.