Wayanad Excise steps up border checks to curb drugs, illegal alcohol before Onam

The Excise department has announced joint inspections at check posts along Wayanad's Tamil Nadu and Karnataka borders to block the movement of narcotic substances and illegal alcohol ahead of this year's Onam festival.

The crackdown follows a district-level Excise public committee meeting that mandated stepped-up enforcement during the holiday season. Multi-department teams will patrol entry points, while intensive searches are planned for locations including Adivasi settlements to detect illicit liquor production and sales. Educational institutions will come under watch to prevent narcotics trading on campuses.

Recent enforcement yields major seizures

Over the past month, Excise officers registered 623 Abkari cases, 397 narcotics cases, and 2,566 violations under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act across Wayanad. The figures emerged from 5,157 raids, including 31 coordinated operations with other government departments.

Seizures during the period included 109 litres of illicit liquor, 2,451 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor, and 333 litres of foreign liquor smuggled from neighbouring states. Officers also confiscated 1,792 litres of wash, 11 litres of beer, 3.75 litres of wine, and 47 litres of 'Arishtam'.

Narcotics hauls comprised 13 cannabis plants, 19.65 kg of ganja, 55.17 grams of hybrid ganja, 138.58 grams of MDMA, and 4.54 kg of tobacco products. Thirty-five vehicles linked to Abkari and narcotics offences were impounded. Officers seized ₹3.72 crore in undocumented cash and initiated follow-up action.

Community engagement planned

Excise officials said they would reinforce ward-level public awareness committees and organise community participation programmes. Authorities pledged strict action on public complaints. The department aims to deploy the combined strategy of border vigilance, targeted raids, and grassroots outreach to curb smuggling and local manufacture of contraband during the festive period.

Source: The Hindu