The State Directorate of Excise has created a record on seizure of illegal excise materials and arrest in such cases during the financial year 2021-22.
The Team Excise headed by Commissioner of Excise Ashish Kumar Singh seized excise materials including drugs worth Rs 133 crore in the year 2021-22, while such materials of Rs 71 crore were seized during the previous fiscal 2020-21.
Singh held the annual excise review meeting through virtual mode on Tuesday, wherein the Deputy Commissioner of Excise (CD, Cuttack)/ Headquarters and Superintendent of Excise, Enforcement Cell attended.
The number of excise cases has increased from 25,070 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 in excise cases in 2020-21, it increased to 32,770 in 2021-22.
Similarly, the detection of cases and arrest under NDPS Act has also increased by 73% and 98% respectively during the last fiscal.
The seizure of OS liquor and country liquor has increased by more than 200% while over seizure of illegal beers increased by 188%.
The Excise officials seized 30,136.523 kg of ganja in 2021-22 against seizure of 16,962.157 kg ganja in 2020-21. The seizure of opium and brown sugar increased by 927% and 219%, respectively.
During the year (2021-22), 3,29,14,032 of hemp plants illegally cultivated in Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Angul and Sambalpur districts were destroyed.
During the meeting, Singh instructed all Superintendents of Excise and EI EB units to strengthen and enhance the enforcement measures in the year 2022-23.
The Directorate of Excise formulated a Plan of Action and strategy for enforcement work in the year 2022-23 during the meeting.