Thiruvananthapuram: In view of the ensuing legislative assembly elections, excise intelligence division has intensified its operations. Areas requiring attention in various districts have been identified.The focus is on areas where drugs/alcohol are likely to be stored, repeat offenders in drug/alcohol cases, current case suspects, illegal distillation centres, and spirit storage facilities. More information will be collected in the coming days. Based on this, joint inspections with field units are being planned.Special inspections were conducted last month in hotspots related to alcohol/drug transactions in the district under the leadership of excise intelligence division, anticipating legislative assembly elections, said a statement issued by joint excise commissioner.Inspections as part of Operation Hot Spots were conducted from Jan 12 to 31 under the supervision of joint excise commissioner V Robert. A total of 132 inspections were conducted in all districts in collaboration with field units. The inspections uncovered 27 drug cases, 14 alcohol-related cases and 101 cases related to tobacco products, totaling 142 cases. In Kollam district, a person was caught with 208 grams of hashish oil in Pathanapuram, and 52 litre of illicit liquor was seized in a single case at Chadayamangalam. In Kozhikode, 400 litre of wash intended for making illicit liquor and 10 litre of illicit liquor were seized.The inspections resulted in the seizure of 208grams of hashish oil, 3.166kg of cannabis, 2.51grams of heroin, 5.07grams of narcotic pills, 600mg of methamphetamine, 1,800 litre of wash, 63 litre of illicit liquor, 10 litre of Goan liquor and 60 litre of foreign liquor. A total of 39 individuals were arrested. It has been decided to continue inspections in more areas, said the statement.
