Bhubaneswar: Amid new year Celebrations, the Excise department of Odisha seized contraband estimated to be worth Rs 1.64 crore in first two days of a special enforcement drive launched on January 20 in coordination with police.
During the drive launched to target excise violations around new year celebrations, enforcement teams booked 318 cases, including four under NDPS Act, and arrested 134 persons. Twelve vehicles were also seized, pointing to organised logistics supporting illegal liquor and narcotics operations, an official statement said on Monday.
Officials recovered 1,89,320 bulk litres of fermented wash, 8,200 kg of gur wash and 880 kg of mahua flowers — raw materials commonly used in illicit distillation. This was in addition to 19,175 bulk litres of illicitly distilled liquor and 485 bulk litres of duty-paid liquor.
Narcotics recoveries included 3 kg of ganja and 117 grams of brown sugar
Officials said the drive aims to dismantle production hubs and supply chains, with sustained, intelligence-led enforcement.
