Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: The Odisha Excise Department reported major seizures on the twentieth day of its ongoing Special Enforcement Drive, registering 260 cases and confiscating contraband valued at Rs1.59 crore. Hemp plants worth Rs1.98 crore were also destroyed during operations.

The drive, which began on December 20, has intensified across districts, targeting illicit liquor, narcotics, and illegal cultivation. According to official data, 150 persons were arrested and 23 vehicles seized in connection with violations during the day’s action.

The seizures included 12,238 bulk litres of illicitly distilled liquor and 261 bulk litres of duty-paid liquor. Other recoveries comprised 1,13,985 bulk litres of fermented wash, 8,490 kg of gur wash, and 2,700 kg of mahua flowers, all used in the preparation of illicit liquor. Narcotics confiscated during the operations included 298 kg of ganja and 80 grams of brown sugar.

Excise units in Koraput and Malkangiri booked two cases relating to illegal hemp cultivation, underscoring the department’s focus on curbing narcotics at the source. Officials said the coordinated enforcement effort is aimed at dismantling networks involved in illicit trade and ensuring public safety.

The department has been conducting the drive with a dual objective: reducing the availability of illicit substances and strengthening deterrence against violations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Enforcement teams have been deployed across vulnerable districts, combining intelligence inputs with field inspections.

Authorities noted that the seizures highlight the scale of illicit activity and the department’s determination to tackle it. The ongoing drive is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with officials emphasizing strict action against offenders and sustained monitoring of vulnerable areas.