In the face of steady rise in narcotic abuse in the State with substances reaching customers in various forms and flavours, the Excise Department has resolved to initiate firm action to ward off the menace, Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh has said.
It is quite distressing to note that the narcotic products by and large sought especially by the migrant labourers, are now found to be increasingly used by local population of various age groups as the Malabar region of the State had registered quantum jump in those seeking narcotic products, Mr. Singh said chairing a meeting of department officials in the district at the Collectorate conference hall here on Wednesday.
Mr. Singh said it was equally distressing to find that even top ranking officials were not reluctant to grow ganja or indulge in illicit liquor manufacturing on their residential premises.
The State, during the last ten months, had registered seizure of 300 metric tonnes of paan masala products and over 3 lakh kilogram of synthetic narcotic tablets. The authorities had managed to slap ₹11.50 crore as fine amount from the offenders, he said.
As many as 12,000 litres of spurious liquor, 21,000 litres of intoxicants in the guise of ayurvedic medicine, and 1.82 lakh litres of wash used for manufacturing spurious liquor were seized during the period. Officials had seized 1,583 vehicles and arrested 4,332 people, he said.
The meeting decided to give added focus on the district’s vulnerable localities such as Bedadukka, Kumbla and Manjeshwaram having porous border points.
Mr. Singh said that as many as 1,200 of 5,000-odd liquor vending outlets, 19 of 30 liquor outlets attached to five star hotels, 11 of 33 liquor outlets attached to various clubs, 600 of 850 beer and wine parlours and 180 of 307 State-run Bevco outlets were closed following the recent Supreme Court verdict.
