Centre’s new data shocks Excise Department
KOCHI: The Kerala Excise Department has expressed shock at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data which showed a drastic fall in the seizure of ganja and other drugs in the state in 2017 compared to the two previous years.In fact, the new provisional data released by the MHA has prompted the excise officers to categorically state it is wrong. According to them, an analysis of the seizures in the first quarters of 2017 and 2018 itself indicates rise in flow of ganja to the state.
As per the Excise Department, 229 kg of ganja was seized in the first quarter of 2017 alone and it rose to 518 kg in the same period this year. “This clearly indicates rise in flow of ganja to the state. The provisional data released by the MHA and presented in Parliament is inaccurate. We have been clearly analysing the trend,” said Additional Excise Commissioner (Enforcement) A Vijayan.
As per the new MHA data, the total quantity of ganja seized in Kerala in 2017 was just 1369.18 kg compared to 4033.91 kg in 2016, a fall of nearly 180 per cent. The total quantity of hashish seized in Kerala also dropped from 12.32 kg in 2016 to 10.26 kg in 2017.
The new data assumes significance as an earlier data of the MHA had showed the quantity of cannabis pumped into the state in 2016 has increased by ten fold compared to the quantity in 2015. The figures showed there has been a 500 per cent increase in seizure of ganja in Kerala in 2016 compared to 2015. While 3.9 tonnes of ganja were seized in Kerala in 2016, it was just 810 kg in 2015.