Drug-addled Vishu-Easter celebrations; Excise forgets its duty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 'Operation Clean State', an excise inspection to prevent drug flow, has now been halted for the last two weeks. In March alone, 14,000 raids were conducted in the drug hunt in collaboration with the police, forest and motor vehicle departments.

There have been over 10,000 cases and over 3,000 arrests. Meanwhile, the police's drug hunt, Operation D-Hunt, continues.

Excise Commissioner Mahipal Yadav told 'Kerala Kaumudi' that Operation Clean State is currently inactive. The inspections and raids conducted by the police and excise, including at checkpoints, were effective. In one month, 752.95 kg of ganja and 6.758 kg of MDMA were seized. In two weeks alone, drugs worth Rs. 2.5 crore were seized. The drug mafia group that fled to Tamil Nadu was also arrested in the meantime.

The Excise Department explains that the special operation was halted to allow leave and rest for the 4,500 field officers assigned for 'Operation Clean State'. However, the government had announced that extensive inspections would continue during the Vishu-Easter celebrations.

"Special operations will be conducted for 10-15 days every month. Police inspections will become more rampant,” said Mahipal Yadav, Excise Commissioner