Odisha Elections 2024: Excise Dept Makes Record Seizure in May; 4976 Cases Registered & 4141 Arrested in 23 Days

Bhubaneswar: In view of the elections in the State, the Odisha Excise has intensified its crackdown against the liquor and drug mafias.

In the past 23 days of this month, the Department has registered as many 4976 cases and nabbed 4141 drug mafias during the crackdown.

The Excise Department has taken stringent action against the liquor mafia, illegal brown sugar traders and ganja mafia. Due to this, the amount of seizure of liquor, marijuana and heroin has increased significantly in the State.

Till May 23, 2,49,510 liters of country liquor, 87 liters of illicit foreign liquor, 53 liters of tax-evaded liquor and 2,613 liters of IMFL, 15,116 liters of beer, 5305 liters of fermented ‘Mahua’, 410 kilos of Bhang, 1852 liters of Aska Fati, and 84,163 kg of Mahua flowers and 434 vehicles were seized.

In these incidents, 4976 cases have been registered and 4141 liquor mafias have been arrested and sent to judicial custody, the Excise Department said in a press release.

The continuous and vigorous crackdown against the illegal marijuana, heroin and cough syrup mafias has also yielded great results. In this incident, 114 cases have been filed and 130 mafias have been arrested. 2951 kg of cannabis, 66 liters of cough syrup and 2558 grams of heroin have been seized. It is estimated that the total value of seized liquor, cannabis and heroin will be Rs 25 crore, the Excise Department stated.

During this period, some of the major vehicles and goods seized include 2352 liters of beer and one truck by the Sambalpur Special Squad, 2800 liters of illegal liquor and a four-wheeler vehicle by the Cuttack officers, one four-wheeler vehicleand 1450 liters and 1050 liters of illegal liquor by the Balasore Excise officers, and 1075 kg of ganja were seized by Boudh officials. A record amount of 15 lakh 84 thousand 450 liters of mahua/liquor bags have been destroyed in various districts, which has helped curb illegal liquor trade to a large extent, the Excise Department said.