Odisha Seizes Nearly ₹200 Crore Worth of Narcotics; 26 Officials Linked to Drug Trade

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s crackdown on illegal narcotics has intensified over the past three years, with the Excise Department seizing drugs worth nearly ₹200 crore across the state. The information was revealed by Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan in a written reply to the Odisha Assembly.

Between 2023 and October 2025, enforcement teams confiscated contraband valued at ₹197.5 crore. The seizures underline the scale of the illicit drug trade, which included 89,723 kg of ganja, 87,829 grams of brown sugar, and 4,036 bulk litres of codeine-based cough syrup.

A major point of concern raised in the Assembly was the department’s acknowledgment of internal involvement. Harichandan confirmed that 26 government officials were found to have links with drug trafficking networks. While five officials have been dismissed from service, disciplinary action is underway against 21 others.

The minister also highlighted that the Excise Department’s enforcement efforts have been hampered by severe manpower shortages. Currently, six Deputy Superintendent of Excise (DSP) posts, 15 Excise Sub-Inspector positions, and 666 constable posts remain vacant. Recruitment for these positions is in progress, with the minister stressing that strengthening personnel capacity is crucial to sustaining the anti-narcotics campaign.

Despite these challenges, Odisha’s excise revenue has continued to rise sharply. Collections increased from ₹5,400 crore in 2020–21 to ₹10,182 crore in 2023–24. In the current financial year alone, the state has already collected ₹11,429.74 crore through excise and GST from liquor sales. Odisha also recorded the sale of 840 lakh litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in a single year, pointing to strong demand in the legal alcohol market.

Harichandan further informed the House that three cases of fake liquor have been detected in the past 18 months. Following these incidents, routine inspections and stricter monitoring have been intensified by field officers.

The contrasting developments—massive narcotics seizures and soaring excise revenue—highlight the dual challenges faced by the Excise Department. While the government tightens its grip on drug networks and illicit liquor, booming legal liquor sales continue to play a significant role in strengthening the state’s finances.