THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise officials will meet their Tamil Nadu counterparts on Saturday to strengthen vigil along the state border in Thiruvananthapuram to prevent smuggling of illicit liquor and banned drugs into the district from the neighbouring state during Onam. “In the last two days alone, we seized 15.5 kg ganja. The entire haul was recovered from vehicles. Of this, 12 kg was seized at Amaravila check post. The remaining 3.5 kg was confiscated by the Neyyatinkara range office,’’ K Chandrapalan, deputy excise commissioner said, adding that Kerala will take up the issue with Tamil Nadu officials. “Our main concern is smuggling of spirit and narcotics substances. The issue will be discussed on Saturday,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, in Thiruvananthapuram, the Excise Department kicked off a special enforcement drive from Thursday in view of the festival season. The drive will last till September 10, he said. The department plans to place proposals for joint patrols along the state border and recommend sharing information at Saturday’s meeting with Tamil Nadu, Chandrapalan said.
The department has opened a district-level control room and formed special squads to stop smuggling of spurious liquor and narcotics. The control room will function 24x7. Also, the department has formed ‘striking forces’ at the taluk level to clamp down on illegal activities. Bars, beer/wine parlours, ayurveda medical shops and toddy parlours will be under surveillance, Chandrapalan said.
Inform the officials
The public have been requested to pass on any information regarding smuggling of spurious liquor or banned substances on the following numbers: Control room (Toll Free No: 1800 425 1727), 0471-2473149. Excise Special Squad, Thiruvananthapuram: 0471-2312418. Excise circle office, Thiruvananthapuram: 0471-2348447, Circle office, Neyyattinkara: 0471-2222380, Nedumangad : 0472-2802227, Chirayinkeezhu: 0470-2622386, Attingal: 0470-2622386, Excise check post, Amaravila: 0471-2221776. Information can also be passed on to deputy excise commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram: 9447178053, assistant excise commissioner, Thiruvananthapuram: 0471-2312418, 9496002861, excise circle-inspector, Thiruvananthapuram: 9400069403.