Bhubaneswar: Highlighting the Excise Department’s intensified campaign against illegal narcotics and intoxicants, Odisha Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Friday directed Excise Superintendents across the state to strengthen intelligence-based enforcement, ensure effective prosecution of offenders and intensify action against drug traffickers.
Addressing the State-Level Excise Superintendents’ Conference at the State Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar, the Minister said regular raids conducted by the department over the past two years have led to record seizures of illegal narcotic substances and intoxicants, besides the arrest of numerous offenders involved in the illicit trade.
Harichandan stressed that enforcement efforts should be backed by credible intelligence, systematic evidence collection and proper legal procedures to ensure conviction of professional criminals involved in drug trafficking. He directed officials to carry out regular raids, build strong cases against offenders and pursue strict legal action through the courts.
The Minister noted that illegal drug trafficking not only causes loss of life and property but also contributes significantly to law-and-order challenges in the state. He underscored the need for sustained and stringent action against those engaged in such activities.
Alongside enforcement measures, the Excise Department has been conducting awareness programmes aimed at educating young people about the dangers of illegal drugs and prohibited intoxicants, an initiative regarded as one of the department’s major achievements.
Harichandan also emphasized the need for regular training of Excise personnel, fresh recruitment to strengthen the workforce and resolution of operational issues faced across different zones.
Addressing the conference, Principal Secretary R.S. Gopalan highlighted various administrative reforms undertaken by the department and urged officers and employees to remain prepared to meet future challenges.
Excise Commissioner P. Anvesha Reddy welcomed participants and presented a detailed review of enforcement activities and revenue collection through a PowerPoint presentation.
The conference deliberated on a range of issues, including curbing illegal drug trafficking, conducting regular enforcement drives, improving inter-departmental coordination, strengthening evidence collection, ensuring proper presentation of cases in courts, preventing ganja cultivation and creating alternative livelihood opportunities for local communities in coordination with other government departments.
Among those present were OSBC Ltd Managing Director Deben Kumar Pradhan, Additional Chief Secretaries Archana Das Pattnaik and Debasish Pattnaik, Additional Commissioner Rudra Narayan Mohanty, and Excise Superintendents from all districts of the state.
