Assam makes cumulative seizures of Rs 75 crore

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: As the countdown begins for the first phase of Assembly elections on March 27, the enforcement and regulatory authorities have made cumulative seizures of cash, liquor, narcotics and jewelry worth Rs. 75 crore.

The seizures made between February 26 and March 18, 2021 include cash amounting to Rs. 16.14 crore. The liquor worth Rs. 19.21 crore has been confiscated.

A press communiqué issued by the Chief Electorate Officer (CEO), Assam on Friday stated that gold, silver ornaments valued at Rs. 2.82 crore have also been seized. Drugs worth market value Rs. 30.30 crore and freebies (cigarettes, black pepper etc.) amounting to Rs 6.63 crore have been seized.

During the same period Crystalline Methamphetamine worth value of Rs. 15.14 crore was seized by NCB Guwahati Zonal Unit from Nazirakhat, Lomati Gaon, Assam on March 7, 2021.

Ganja (3682 kg) and gold (1 kg) worth Rs. 5.99 crore which were being smuggled from the neighboring states of Manipur and Tripura were seized by DRI on March 7 & 8, 2021.

37, 569 litres of liquor worth Rs. 4.52 crore was seized by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Dibrugarh district on March 15, 2021.

Till March 18, 2021 since the declaration of the election on February 26, total quantity of retail sale of liquor amounts to over 77 lakh litres. As on date, the state has 2512 IMFL shops and 713 country liquor shops. Eight districts, namely Bokajan, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Jorhat, Morigaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and West Karbi Anglong have shown a trend of liquor sale over 30%. 18 numbers of retail shops across these eight districts accounts for the 30% increase in sale. Excise officials are monitoring these shops on a daily basis and show causes have been issued. Recently, two IMFL shops at Gossaigaon have been sealed due to excise related violations. 224 persons have been arrested for violations of excise rules and 16 vehicles seized.

Strategic as well as random raids are being carried out by the enforcement and regulatory agencies at the 41 numbers of potential illegal storage identified areas located in 29 election districts. 138 numbers of shops identified by the Excise authorities falls under the 'Sensitive' category. To monitor and track illegal consignments of liquors and other such goods, 15 check-gates have been put at the Inter-District Borders manned by excise officials. Throughout the state rigorous enforcement activities are being undertaken.

Drugs worth Rs. 30.30 crore of market value has been detected and seized till date. The quantities seized are: Heroin – 4193.07 gm, tablets – 161788, Crystalline Methamphetamine – 10.27 kg, capsule – 112800, ganja – 4417.6 kg, morphine – 1000 gm and brown sugar – 102.85 gm.

Surveillance teams, enforcement and regulatory agencies are maintaining a close vigil 24/7 to crack down on all illegal transactions of cash, liquor, drugs, jewelry and other illegal goods in the run-up to the poll day.

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