The Excise department has decided to intensify the ongoing drive to prevent the illegal sale of spurious liquor and drugs in the district. According to official statistics, a total of 2,367 raids have been conducted in various parts since December 17. As many as 360 cases have been registered in which 387 persons have been made accused. Of these, 359 persons were arrested and were produced before various courts across the district.
During the same period, the items that have been confiscated by Excise teams include 735 litres of spirit, 41.25 litres of arrack and 508.36 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). Other products that were seized were 921.5 litres of ‘koda’ (undistilled spirit), 16.082 kg of ganja, 41.01 litres of spurious ‘arishtam’, 1448.05 litres of toddy, 150.01 litres of beer and 202 packets of tobacco.
At a meeting of the district-level ‘Janakeeya Samithi’ that was chaired by District Collector N. Padmakumar, Excise officials said that inspections were conducted at 2,670 toddy parlours, 80 bars and four beer parlours. In addition, 1,130 samples of toddy were collected for chemical examination to ascertain contamination.
Deputy Excise Commissioner Suresh Richard said the district-wide drive had been receiving immense support from various sections, including political parties, voluntary groups and government departments, in preventing violations of the Abkari Act.
Mr. Padmakumar said non-uniformed officers had been entrusted to monitor the sale of alcohol and drugs on school and college premises. Raids and surveillance have also been intensified in such areas to prevent the illegal sale of tobacco products. Awareness campaigns were also being undertaken at various higher secondary schools in the district. Ninety anti-liquor clubs had also been established at selected schools, he added.
He directed the officials to ensure inspections at the coastal areas of the district to prevent such illegal activities. He was informed that constant surveillance had been put up at tourist destinations and in the Kuttanad region, where the possibilities of illegal distribution of liquor were high.
Excise and police officials and the members of the ‘Janakeeya Samithi’ participated in the meeting.