Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Excise Department continued its statewide crackdown on illegal liquor and narcotics, seizing contraband worth Rs 1.77 crore on the 29th day of its ongoing enforcement drive.
According to an official press release, a total of 312 cases were detected and 58 persons arrested during the latest phase of the operation. Seized items included 19,219 BL of illicitly distilled (ID) liquor, 688 BL of duty-paid liquor, and 244,770 BL of wash, which was destroyed on the spot. Officials also recovered nine litres of fake foreign liquor, 600 kg of mohua flower, and four kg of bhang. Additionally, four vehicles used in the illegal trade were impounded.
In a parallel operation under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, four cases were registered, leading to the seizure of 110 kg of ganja and 12 litres of codeine-based cough syrup.
The Excise Department has reiterated its commitment to continue the sustained crackdown to curb the illegal trade of liquor and narcotics across the state.