The police and Excise department have stepped up vigil to prevent the possible influx of illicit liquor and narcotic drugs into the city in view of the Onam celebrations. The law enforcers have intensified search operations as the festivities have already begun.
The special measures include joint operations by excise officials and the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) of the police. “Intensive searches are being carried out at railway stations in the city and its suburbs. The enforcement teams have also been combing trains, especially those arriving from outside the State,” sources in the police and Excise said.
As a special measure, the Excise department has readied two units of what it calls a ‘striking force’ to deal with emergency situations. “We have set up one unit for the eastern region, covering Muvattupuzha, Perumbavoor, and Kothamangalam, and another for the western region, covering Mattanchery and Fort Kochi. The teams remain on round-the-clock alert. In case of a tip-off, the striking force can respond swiftly,” an Excise officer said.
The Excise department has also joined hands with the Coastal Police and the Forest department for search operations, the officer added. Highway patrol has been stepped up as well.
The Excise officer said the force has been conducting its Onam special drive since August 8. “The drive mainly focuses on receiving tip-offs from the public. Contact numbers of officers, including the Joint Excise Commissioner, Deputy Excise Commissioner, and Assistant Excise Commissioners, have been publicised for people to share information about suspected narcotic activities,” the officer said.
The Excise department has registered 186 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 142 cases under the Abkari Act in August. Meanwhile, in major drug hauls by the Ernakulam City police, two youths were arrested from Vennala with 1.09 kg of suspected ganja, and two others were nabbed from Cheranalloor with 24.7 gm of suspected MDMA over the past week. On Sunday (August 31, 2025), a native of Odisha was arrested by the DANSAF team from Edappally with 2.98 kg of suspected ganja.
Published – September 01, 2025 12:34 am IST
