2024 Elections: Excise Dept Starts Special Drive against Liquor & Drug Mafias; 3755 Cases Registered, 2933 Arrested in Past 20 Days 

Bhubaneswar: In view of the ensuing general elections 2024, the Odisha Excise Department has started a special drive against the liquor and drug mafias in the State.

In the past 20 days (February 10 to February 29), the Department has registered 3755 cases and arrested 2933 people under the special drive.

In this drive, 1,44,862 liters of illegal liquor, 1,900 kg of cannabis, 787 grams of heroin, 224 vehicles, 156 liters of cough syrup, 76 liters of foreign liquor, 536 liters of foreign liquor, 857 liters of beer, 1660 kg of Mahua flowers, 1178 Kg of bhang, 1700 grams of opium, 79 liters of tincture of ginger, 1239 liters of country liquor have been seized, according to an official release.

While 116 cases have been identified under the NDPS Act, 126 people have been arrested. The market value of all the seized items will be around Rs 24.5 crore.

In this special drive, a bar and restaurant in Khurda and a licensed country liquor shop in Balasore have been sealed for illegal activities. The licensee of the country liquor shop has also been arrested. Steps have been taken to confiscate the vehicles seized in liquor cases.

In order to ensure the peaceful conduct of the 2024 general elections, the Excise Department will continue its drive against the liquor mafias.