Bhubaneswar, Sept. 19 -- Intensifying its crackdown on illegal contraband trade, the Odisha Excise Department seized items worth Rs 1.60 crore during a special enforcement drive on yesterday.
On the 18th day of the drive, enforcement teams detected 254 cases and arrested 153 persons involved in various illicit activities.
The seizures included 10,606 bulk litres of ID liquor, 603 bulk litres of duty-paid liquor, 11 litresof duplicate liquor, and the destruction of 1,07,523 litres of wash used in illicit distillation. In addition, 20 vehicles engaged in illegal transportation were seized.
The drive also dealt a major blow to narcotics trafficking, with 13 NDPS cases registered. Officers recovered 163 kg of ganja and 245 grams of heroin, r...