Bhubaneswar: On the 12th day of its ongoing special drive, the Excise department seized contraband worth about Rs 1.69 crore across several districts.
In the crackdown on illicit liquor and narcotics, enforcement teams registered 292 cases and arrested 168 people under the Excise Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The operations resulted in the seizure of 13,988 bulk litres (BL) of illicit liquor, 785 BL of duty-paid liquor, and the destruction of over 1.43 lakh litres of fermented wash.
Officials also confiscated 524 kg of mahua flowers and seized 23 vehicles used for transporting contraband.
A key highlight of the drive was action under the NDPS Act, with 10 cases booked and seizures of 132 kg of ganja and 332 grams of heroin, underscoring the department’s zero-tolerance policy on narcotics.
The Excise Department said the coordinated campaign is part of its sustained effort to break the illegal alcohol and drug trade.
“The 12th day’s results reflect our firm resolve to curb illicit activities and safeguard public health and safety,” it stated.
Since the start of the month, the Excise department has carried out the special drive through heightened surveillance, field raids, and intelligence-based operations, and said it will continue with the same momentum in the coming days.
PNN
