Commissioner of Excise Ashish Kumar Singh expressed happiness as the State Excise has registered a growth of 96 per cent on detection and seizure of illegal excise substances during the month of May, 2022.

The number of excise cases has increased from 2,270 in May 2021 to 4,450 in May 2022, registering a growth of 96.04 per cent.

This was known from a monthly review meeting of State Excise held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Singh.

The review was made through virtual mode on Friday, where Deputy Commissioner of Excise (CD, Cuttack)/ Headquarter and Superintendent of Excise, Enforcement Cell attended from different offices.

The Excise officials have registered 70 NDPS cases and arrested 84 persons in May this year while only 21 cases with arrest of 25 persons were made during May 2021.

Similarly, the seizure of Ganja increased from 1,653 kg in May 2021 to 3,277 kg in May this year, thereby registering a growth of 98.26 per cent.

The Excise officials have also seized brown sugar of 1,050 grams in last month whereas only 230 grams of the NDPS substance was seized in May 2021.

The total value of seizure of NDPS substances will be around Rs 14.50 crore in May 2022. The Directorate had seized NDPS material worth Rs 9.25 crore during May last year.

While 1,839 persons were arrested in Excise cases in May last year, it has increased to 3,639 in the same month of 2022.

The seizure of ID liquor and OS liquor has increased by more than 149 per cent and 107 per cent, while seizure of country made liquor increased by 25 per cent in May 2022.

In seizure of IMFL, beer, duplicate IMFL and bhang increased by 300 per cent, 33 per cent, 22 per cent and 2442 per cent, respectively. The Excise Department has seized 178 vehicles, which were used for the illegal transportation of the excise substances during last month alone.

During first nine days of June, field officers of Excise Department have detected 1,165 cases, arrested 995 persons and seized 30,949 litres ID liquor, 3,23,665 kg of ID wash, 130.14 litres of duplicate IMFL, 805.1 kg of Ganja, 255 grams Brown Sugar, 589.39 litre beer, 279.315 litre IMFL and 47 vehicles including bikes, four wheelers and heavy vehicles. Total approximate value of seized property is Rs 2.9 crore.

During the meeting, Excise Commissioner Singh appreciated the performance and achievement of the Excise officers during the last month.

He instructed all Superintendents of Excise and EI EB Units to strengthen and enhance the enforcement measures in the coming month and to conduct frequent raids against the illegal manufacturing, distribution and sale of ID liquor/ duplicate IMFL / non duty paid IMFL / NDPS items.