Cuttack: Directorate of Excise in Odisha has created a record on seizure of illegal excise materials and arrest on such cases during the financial year 2021-22.
The Team Excise headed by Ashish Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Excise have seized excise materials including drugs worth Rs 133 crores in the year 2021-22, while such materials of Rs 71 crores were seized during the previous fiscal 2020-21.
State Excise Commissioner Mr.Singh held the Annual Excise Review meeting through virtual mode on Tuesday, wherein Deputy Commissioner of Excise (CD, Cuttack)/ Headquarter and Superintendent of Excise, Enforcement Cell were attended from different offices.
The number of excise cases has been increased from 25070 in 2020-21 to 39,741 in 2021-22, registering a growth of 58.50 per cent. Similarly, the number of arrests has increased by 70 per cent in the last fiscal in comparison to the year 2020-21. While 19,243 were arrested on excise cases in 2020-21, it has been increased to 32,770 in 2021-22.
Similarly, the detection of cases and arrest under NDPS Act has also increased by 73 per cent and 98 per cent during the last fiscal.
The seizure of OS liquor and country liquor has increased by more than 200 per cent while over seizure of illegal beers increased by 188 per cent.
The Excise officials seized 30136.523 kg of Ganja in 2021-22 against the seizure of 16962.157 kg Ganja in 2020-21. The seizure of Opium and brown sugar has been increased by 927 per cent and 219 per cent, respectively.
During the year (2021-22), 3,29,14,032 numbers of hemp Plants illegally cultivated in Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Angul and Sambalpur Districts have been destroyed.
During destruction Drone Camera have been utilised in the District of Koraput, Gajapati, Malkangiri and others district for identification of hemp plant areas, officials said.
Further, two inter-state rackets of duplicate IMFL & NDP IMFL cases have been detected in which 9223 Litres Non duty paid IMFL (sale in Arunachal Pradesh only) and 2 lakh duplicate caps, 80 thousand fake EAL and Company lables have been seized.
During the meeting, the Excise Commissioner Mr.Singh appreciated the performance and achievement of the Excise Officers during the year 2021-22.
He instructed all Superintendents of Excise & EI EB Units to strengthen and enhance the enforcement measures in the year 2022-23 and to conduct frequent raids against the illegal manufacturing, distributing and sale of ID Liquor/ duplicate IMFL / Non duty paid IMFL / NDPS items.
The Directorate of Excise has formulated a Plan of Action and strategy for enforcement work in the year 2022-23 during the meeting, said a senior official.
