Hyderabad: In one of the largest anti-illicit liquor operations in recent years, the Telangana Excise Department has destroyed more than 90,740 litres of fermented jaggery wash and seized 6,074 litres of illicit country liquor during a two-month statewide enforcement drive. The crackdown was launched under the directions of Excise Enforcement Director Avinash Mohanty as part of intensified efforts to curb the manufacture and sale of illegal liquor, which officials say poses a serious threat to public health across Telangana.
During the operation, Excise teams also confiscated 30,329 kg of jaggery, a key raw material used in brewing illicit liquor. Officials said that destroying the fermented wash at the source is a critical step because it prevents large quantities of illegal liquor from reaching consumers and reduces the risk of poisoning incidents linked to toxic country liquor.
The Telangana Excise Department said the campaign is focused on protecting public health, as illicit liquor often contains harmful and unregulated substances that can cause severe illness, permanent health complications and even death. Senior Excise officials have instructed all field units to intensify raids in vulnerable areas and ensure that illicit brewing units are dismantled permanently rather than being allowed to resume operations after temporary seizures.
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According to the department, illegal liquor manufacturing is primarily concentrated in the erstwhile districts of Warangal, Nalgonda, Adilabad, Mahabubnagar and Khammam, while isolated cases have also been detected in parts of Ranga Reddy and Karimnagar districts. Enforcement teams have been directed to maintain sustained operations in these hotspot districts to eliminate the illegal liquor network.
The crackdown is being carried out through coordinated action involving the State Task Force (STF), Excise Enforcement teams, District Task Force (DTF) units and personnel from Excise Stations across Telangana. Officials said the operation is not limited to illicit country liquor alone; teams are simultaneously targeting non-duty-paid liquor, smuggled alcohol and narcotic drugs as part of a broader campaign against organised illegal trade.
The Excise Department has also increased surveillance on railway routes suspected of being used for transporting contraband. Special monitoring is being conducted on the Konark Express, which has been identified as a potential route for ganja trafficking, as well as on trains arriving from Delhi, Goa and Maharashtra, where illegal liquor and narcotics are suspected to be brought into Telangana.
Officials said the sustained raids on illicit liquor manufacturing units, drug storage points and smuggling routes have created panic among bootleggers and illegal liquor operators. Reiterating its commitment to strict enforcement, the Telangana Excise Department stated that the statewide drive will continue with equal focus on illicit liquor, non-duty-paid liquor and narcotics to safeguard public health and curb organised illegal activities throughout the state.
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