THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise minister MV Govindan has said that delibrate attempts to frame Kerala as drug hub should be identified and the Opposition must change their style of defaming the state due to political hatred.

Strong enforcement activities are organized under the leadership of the Excise Department. Some people engage in slanderous propaganda by concealing this fact.

The Excise Department is working hard to curb the use and consumption of newgen drugs. The government is able to thwart the attempt to turn Kerala into a drug hub. The minister said that such propaganda was misleading as it conceals such facts.

In January alone, 249 liters of liquor, 4106 liters of foreign liquor, 1069 liters of ither state liquor and 22,638 liters of wash were seized in 1540 excise cases. 257 people were arrested. 367 cases were registered under the NDPS Act. Police seized 291 kg of cannabis, 17.4 kg of hashish, 615 g of MDMA and 156 g of narcotic pills. A total of 4554 kg of banned tobacco products were seized and a fine of Rs 15,06,800 was imposed.