Excise dept intensifies crackdown ahead of polls

T'puram: In the run-up to assembly elections, the excise intelligence wing has intensified enforcement activities across Kerala, launching two special operations — Operation Hotspots and Operation C-Hunt — to curb the illegal trade in liquor and narcotics.The excise intelligence department has identified sensitive areas across districts requiring close monitoring. Under Op Hotspots, targeted inspections are being carried out in these locations. The drive focuses on areas suspected of storing liquor and narcotics, habitual offenders in excise and drug-related cases, accused persons in ongoing cases, illicit distillation units, spirit storage facilities, major railway stations, interstate bus services and parcel hubs. Joint inspections are being conducted in coordination with various field units. Meanwhile, Op C-Hunt (Cannabis Hunt) has been launched to detect and eliminate illegal cannabis cultivation. The operation is being conducted with the support of forest and police departments, particularly in districts such as Idukki, Palakkad and Wayanad. Recent inspections were carried out in locations including Vatsapettykudi, Thulamala, Aakashkotta, Koodakadu tribal settlements and Theerthamalakudi in Idukki, as well as in Attappadi region of Palakkad and parts of Wayanad. In Attappadi alone, officials seized 1,350 cannabis plants. Between March 16 and April 2, 2026, inspections under Op Hotspots resulted in the registration of 61 Abkari cases, 52 narcotics cases and 47 tobacco-related cases. In narcotics cases, officials seized 36.078kg of cannabis, 1,362 cannabis plants, 328.404g of methamphetamine, 0.330g of MDMA, 2.54g of brown sugar and 2.06g of hashish oil. The statewide enforcement drive is being carried out under the direction of Kishore Kumar IPS.