The Excise Department and police jointly carried out a major crackdown on illegal country liquor trade in Tigiria area of Cuttack and seized a huge quantity of liquor during raids at Bhiruda and Panaspatna villages.

The joint team conducted the raid following repeated complaints about illegal brewing and supply of country liquor from the area. Officials said country liquor was being prepared in large quantities and supplied to different places from the two villages.  

Underground chambers used to hide liquor

During the raid, officials reportedly found underground secret chambers allegedly being used to store liquor and raw materials to avoid detection.

Excise officials were surprised to find the manner in which the illegal trade was being operated in the villages. Several containers of country liquor and large quantities of brewing materials were seized during the operation.

Sources said the seized liquor was later destroyed on the spot by pouring it out in the village streets.

Villages under scanner over illegal brewing

Officials said illegal liquor brewing had been continuing in the Bhiruda-Panaspatna belt for a long time, with repeated allegations of smuggling and illegal supply from the area.  

During an earlier crackdown in the same region, the Excise Department had seized over 11,000 litres of country liquor along with huge amount of brewing material.  

Also Read: Police nexus with ganja mafia in Odisha’s Bargarh triggers action and suspensions

Several cases have reportedly been registered in connection with the latest raid, while efforts are underway to identify others involved in the illegal liquor network.