LUCKNOW, Feb. 25 -- The Uttar Pradesh excise department will soon use handheld high-tech X-ray scanning machines besides taking help of data analytics agency to give an impetus to its crackdown on inter-state smuggling of illicit liquor.

A provision for hand-held X-ray scanning machines has also been made in the state's new excise policy 2025-26. A trial of these scanners was conducted earlier but the ones tested had some technical limitations. Now, the department is gearing to buy high-end scanners.

The scanners that were put to trial earlier are the ones which are used by Bihar government at the moment and come at a cost of around Rs.1 crore each. Now, the excise department is gearing to get state-of-the-art X-ray scanners that cost a...