Odisha excise seizes contraband worth Rs.1.21 Crore in statewide special drive
Bhubaneswar, Sep 9 (UNI) The Odisha Excise Department, under its ongoing Enforcement Special Drive, has achieved a major breakthrough in its crackdown on illicit liquor and narcotics rackets across the state.
According to official sources, contraband worth Rs 1.21 crore was seized in coordinated raids conducted yesterday.
During the operations, the department registered 258 cases and arrested 147 persons for their involvement in the illegal trade.
The enforcement teams reported significant seizures, including 10,362 bulk litres (BL) of illicitly distilled liquor, 471 BL of duty-paid liquor, and the destruction of nearly 1,00,060 litres of wash, a key ingredient in the production of illicit liquor.
Additionally, the teams confiscated 7,294 kilograms of Mahua flowers, 24 kilograms of Bhang, and 13 vehicles used in the illegal trade.
In a parallel crackdown under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, officials registered eight cases and seized nearly 347 kilograms of ganja.
Authorities stated that the sustained operations are part of the Department’s “Zero Tolerance Policy” against illicit liquor and drug trafficking.
The special drive, which has been intensified across districts, is aimed at dismantling networks engaged in the illegal supply chain and ensuring stricter enforcement of excise and narcotics laws.
The Department further affirmed that enforcement actions will continue with equal intensity in the coming days, reinforcing the state government’s goal of achieving an illicit liquor and drug-free Odisha.
