(LEFT) Heavy machinery put to work to demolish the illicit impounded IMFL at the premises of the Directorate of Excise & Prohibition, Dimapur on July 23. (Morung Photo) (RIGHT) Photo released by the Excise department shows the IMFL seized from a truck at the Newfield inter-state check-post, Dimapur on July 22.
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 23
Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) continues to cross over into Nagaland with ease even as a farcical liquor prohibition law continues to be imposed in the State. The Department of Excise & Prohibition on July 23 destroyed over 1.37 lakh bottles of IMFL, which according to the Department, were confiscated in Dimapur district over a one-year period, from July 2020 till mid-July 2021.
The impounded liquor was disposed within the premises of the Excise & Prohibition Directorate in Dimapur.
According to the Department, 1,37,199 bottles of assorted IMFL were confiscated by three enforcement units—Mobile Squad, Narcotic Cell and the Dimapur district unit (Superintendent of Excise).
The Dimapur district unit’s catch totaled 94,214 bottles confiscated during January to July 2021 and was approximated to be worth over Rs 1.43cr in market price. While stating that it registered 141 cases in connection to the catch, it was informed that monetary penalty imposed and realized from the offenders totaled Rs 3,27,000.
The Mobile Squad’s catch totaled 26,052 bottles, confiscated during July 2020 to mid-July 2020, with an approximate market value of over Rs 36.65 lakh. It was added that 269 persons were arrested and as many cases registered under the NLTP Act during the period, while the penalty realized from the offenders totaled Rs 3,16,000.
The Narcotic Cell’s catch totaled 16,933 bottles confiscated during July 2020-June 2021. It said that 345 cases were registered and 346 persons were arrested in connection to the offenses. The monetary penalty realized from the offenders amounted to Rs 4,05,000, it was informed.
More IMFL sized
In another development, some 490 cases of assorted IMFL were intercepted by the Dimapur district Excise personnel at the Newfield inter-state check-post on July 22. The liquor was reportedly in transit to Imphal, Manipur, on a truck when it was stopped at the check-post at around 8:30pm based on a “tip-off.”
According to the Superintendent of Excise, Dimapur, the gate duty personnel found the liquor concealed under bags of flour and noodles.
One person, identified as Sham Kumar, resident of Khatkhati, was arrested under relevant sections of the NLTP Act. “The case is being investigated upon. This is the second seizure made by the unit within a span of two days,” stated a press release.
