Bhubaneswar, Decemebr 30: The Excise Department registered 212 cases and seized contraband valued at Rs 76.61 lakh on Monday during the ongoing State-wide special enforcement drive, which commenced on December 20.

According to official data, 63 persons were arrested during the day’s operations, including one case booked under the NDPS Act. Enforcement teams also seized a total of 8,524 bulk litres of illicitly distilled liquor and 377 bulk litres of duty-paid liquor. Other recoveries included 78,500 bulk litres of fermented wash, 10,000 kg of gur wash, 274 kg of mahua flowers and 70 grams of brown sugar.

In a significant action during the day, Koraput Excise team raided an illegal manufacturing unit at Bondaguda in Kotpad area, uncovering a full-fledged counterfeit foreign liquor operation. The raid led to the seizure of 1,545.16 litres of spurious liquor, along with a large quantity of counterfeit packaging material, including duplicate EALs, company labels and corks, besides spirits, chemicals, machinery and other manufacturing apparatus.

Officials said the seizures for the day reflect the focus of the ongoing drive on disrupting both illicit liquor production and organised supply chains. The enforcement campaign will continue as part of sustained measures to curb illegal manufacturing and trafficking across the State.