Bhubaneswar: The Excise Department conducted a raid in Saliasahi slum in Bhubaneswar early on Friday morning, following a tip-off about the illegal sale of country liquor. Nine accused including some women were arrested and a large quantity of country liquor and fermented liquor were seized.
According to officials, the Excise Department team destroyed 5,000 to 6,000 litres of fermented liquor and seized 1,000 litres of liquor during the raid. The department had received reliable information that illegal country liquor was being sold in Saliasahi slum, prompting the raid.
In a clever operation, an Excise Department officer disguised as a customer gathered intelligence inputs before a 40-member team, including the Excise SP, swooped in to raid the slum.
The department has also revealed that country liquor is being manufactured in Saliasahi, with illegal supplies being smuggled in from Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Ganjam, and Athagarh.
In a separate incident, the Excise Department conducted a raid in Baipariguda, Koraput, seizing and destroying 2,500 litres of fermented liquor and 120 litres of country liquor. The raid was carried out with the assistance of APR Force, Magistrate, IIC Kundura PS, and Jeypore police officials.
