The Nagaland Excise and Prohibition Department collected Rs 22.51 crore in excise revenue between April 2021 and March 2026, with annual collections rising from Rs 3.17 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 5.92 crore in 2025-26. The figures were presented during a review meeting chaired by Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav at Lok Bhavan, Kohima, on August 11, 2026.
The review focused on the functioning of the Excise and Prohibition Department, including enforcement activities, revenue generation, infrastructure development, drug and liquor seizures, manpower requirements and operational challenges. The department outlined its responsibilities under the Nagaland Excise Act, 1967, Nagaland Excise Rules, 1972, Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989, Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Rules, 1990, as well as the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
During the period from April 2021 to March 2026, the department registered cases under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act and various drug-related laws. Enforcement operations resulted in the seizure of Indian-made foreign liquor, country liquor, poppy straw, opium, heroin, cough syrup and other drugs in capsule and tablet forms. The department also highlighted activities related to drug awareness, seizure operations and the destruction of confiscated liquor and narcotic substances.
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According to the department, total excise revenue collection during the five-year period stood at Rs 2,250.66 lakh, or Rs 22.51 crore. Revenue collection showed an upward trend, increasing from Rs 317.36 lakh in 2021-22 to Rs 591.96 lakh in 2025-26, indicating a significant improvement in annual revenue generation despite the challenges associated with enforcement and prohibition.
The review also covered infrastructure development under the Excise Housing Programme 2025-26. Projects discussed included the construction of Excise offices at Phek and Peren and an Excise Bonded Warehouse at Dimapur. The department said improved infrastructure would support enforcement operations and strengthen its administrative and operational capabilities.
Several challenges affecting the department’s functioning were also highlighted. These include porous international and inter-state borders, manpower shortages, the absence of a cadre review since the department’s inception, discontinuation of inter-district check-gates, outdated firearms, limited operational mobility and continued demand for illicit liquor. The department reported a personnel-to-population ratio of approximately 1:6,000, compared with 1:2,000 in neighbouring Mizoram.
The department’s future roadmap focuses on strengthening enforcement mechanisms, tackling organised crime and drug trafficking, improving institutional capacity, enhancing governance and increasing revenue collection. Building personnel capacity and strengthening measures to combat illicit liquor and narcotics will remain key priorities, with the broader objective of contributing towards a drug-free Nagaland.
Governor Nand Kishore Yadav emphasised the need to strengthen enforcement and institutional capacity to effectively address illicit liquor production, illegal trade and drug trafficking. He also stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to protect public health, improve governance and create a safer society in Nagaland.
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