Bhubaneswar: The Excise officials seized liquor, ganja, brown sugar and other intoxicants worth more than Rs 52 crore during a special drive across Odisha in January.
The Excise department conducted the special drive against liquor mafia and ganja and brown sugar smugglers in view of upcoming General Elections. All Superintendents of Excise had been instructed to not only intensify raids, but also nab the kingpins of illegal trades.
During the special drive from January 1 to February 4, a record number of 6416 cases were detected while 5,254 persons were arrested and forwarded to court.
The Excise officials seized 1,463 kg of ganja, 2,424 gram of heroin, 366 vehicles, 2,07,888 litre of ID liquor and 1,497 litre of other kinds of illegally transported liquor during the period. The total value of the seized items was estimated to be Rs 52.5 crore.
During the Special Drive, 143 cases were detected under NDPS Act in which 153 persons were arrested and forwarded to court.
In addition to conducting raids, the department took steps to confiscate the vehicles used in illegal liquor business. In the process, 3,369 vehicles were seized between April 2023 and January 2024. Total 676 vehicles have already been confiscated and the fine/sale proceedings deposited in state exchequer.
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