The Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) arrested Dilip Marwadi, the foremost bootlegger in Gujarat, near the Maninagar railway station in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Marwadi (35), originally from Rajasthan, was staying at Sudan village in Anand for the last 30 years and was involved in the illicit liquor trade for the last eight years.

The DCB said Marwadi procured foreign liquor from Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and supplied them in Anand, Kheda and Ahmedabad districts. He was previously caught twice under PASA in 2005.

Investigating Officer Sub-Inspector J M Yadav said: “He was the kingpin in the alcohol trade and had a large network. He used to get truckloads of liquor from other states and store them in Anand. The liquor was then distributed to traders in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat. His business was active till 2005.”

He added: “But after 2005, he went underground. The police were after him for the last four years. He used Santro and Innova to supply liquor in smaller towns. He was travelling in a Santro when he was nabbed and the Innova following him was found loaded with liquor.”

The DCB has taken Marwadi on a two-day remand for further interrogation.