Bhubaneswar, 29 December (H.S.): The Excise Department registered 581 cases and seized contraband valued at ₹5.18 crore during the seventh, eighth and ninth days of its ongoing Special Enforcement Drive, which commenced on December 20.

According to official figures, 200 persons were arrested during the three-day operations, including eight cases booked under the NDPS Act. Seventeen vehicles were seized in connection with the enforcement action.

The seizures included 27,689 bulk litres of illicitly distilled liquor, 1,097 bulk litres of duty-paid liquor, 2,73,860 bulk litres of fermented wash and 29,050 kg of gur wash. Enforcement teams also recovered 720 kg of mahua flowers. 52 kg of bhang was also seized during the operations

Narcotics seized during the period comprised of 38 kg of ganja and 25 grams of brown sugar. In addition, Excise units in Koraput and Malkangiri registered two cases relating to the illegal cultivation of hemp plants.

Officials said the cumulative figures from the drive underscore the organized nature of illicit liquor and narcotics operations and reiterated that the enforcement campaign would continue with a focus on dismantling production centers, transport networks and supply chains across the State.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda