Telangana Excise Department Launches Major Anti-Drug and Liquor Crackdown
In a significant enforcement operation targeting drug trafficking and non-duty paid liquor (NDPL) smuggling, the Telangana Prohibition and Excise department has registered 159 cases across the state during the first 60 days of this year. This intensive drive represents a substantial escalation in the state's efforts to combat illegal substances and untaxed alcohol entering the region.
Focus on Airport and Transportation Hubs
Excise teams operating in Shamshabad, Meerpet, and Saroornagar areas accounted for 43 of these cases, with a particular focus on NDPL being transported to Hyderabad by air from Goa and Delhi. Officials successfully confiscated 335 liters of non-duty paid liquor during these operations. The enforcement strategy has specifically targeted transportation channels, with authorities monitoring railway stations, airport arrivals, and key road checkpoints around the clock.
"A special team from the excise department is always on the lookout for NDPL in the vicinity of RGI Airport," revealed an STF official. "We monitor passengers arriving from Goa and Delhi. The difference in the retail price of alcohol between Haryana, Goa, and Telangana has made the smuggling of NDPL and foreign liquor a lucrative business."
Substantial Drug Seizures and Arrests
Beyond liquor enforcement, the crackdown has yielded substantial drug seizures. Excise teams confiscated 565 kg of cannabis along with other controlled substances including cocaine and OG Kush during this two-month period. The department's records show comprehensive drug enforcement statistics:
- 186 NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases booked
- 391 suspects arrested in connection with drug offenses
- 84 vehicles seized during drug enforcement operations
- Additional substances recovered include 686 ganja plants, 286 grams of OG Kush, 4.9 kg of hash oil, 11 kg of ganja chocolates, 33 grams of heroin, 8.46 grams of MDMA, 2 kg of opium, 1.3 kg of poppy straw, 325 grams of alprazolam, and 76.7 grams of cocaine
Specialized Task Force Operations
The enforcement initiative has deployed specialized resources to maximize effectiveness. Four State Task Force (STF) teams from the Enforcement Division are now collaborating with district-level Task Force units to prevent the inflow of contraband. These coordinated teams focus on intercepting NDPL originating from Goa, Delhi, Haryana, and Noida, while also targeting narcotic substances primarily entering from Andhra Pradesh, Bengaluru, and Goa.
In one notable interception during the operation's first week, STF officers discovered 24 bottles of smuggled Scotch whisky hidden in a freezer vehicle that was supposedly transporting blood plasma to a company in Hyderabad. This discovery led to the arrest of two individuals involved in the smuggling attempt.
March Enforcement Highlights
The enforcement momentum has continued into March with six major NDPL smuggling cases already registered in Hyderabad alone. In five additional cases reported this month, authorities seized a total of 527 bottles of non-duty paid liquor that had been transported via flights, trains, and vehicles from Goa and Delhi.
"We have intensified our crackdown in line with the government's directive to deliver a drug-free Telangana," stated Shahnawaz Qasim, director of enforcement at the Prohibition & Excise department.
Comparative Enforcement Data
The current enforcement drive shows increased activity compared to previous periods. In 2025, the department filed 217 NDPS cases, arrested 415 suspects, and confiscated 124 vehicles. During that year, seizures included 11 cannabis plants, 735 kg of cannabis, 236 grams of OG Kush, 633 grams of hash oil, 10 grams of charas, 39 kg of cannabis-infused chocolates, 41 grams of heroin, 52.43 grams of MDMA, 2 kg of poppy straw, and 5.3 kg of alprazolam.
The current intensified operations reflect the state government's commitment to creating a substance-free environment through coordinated enforcement, surveillance, and interception strategies across transportation networks and distribution channels.
