4L liters alcohol, 1L kg ganja, 4L tonnes of sand seized from smugglers in AP

Vijayawada: Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) has seized over four lakh liters of liquor, one lakh kilograms of ganja, and four lakh tonnes of sand from smugglers in Andhra Pradesh for the last one year.

After the formation of SEB in May last year, 79,632 cases were registered to curb illicit liquor and liquor trafficking. Around 4,85,009 liters of alcohol, 12,766 liters of beer, 4,54,658 liters of country liquor were seized. Besides, 1,12,70,123 litters of Jaggery wash was destroyed and 2,85,142 Kg of black jaggery seized. Around 22,715 vehicles were seized and cases registered against 240 government employees involved in irregularities.

Likewise, 7,244 cases were registered against sand smuggling. Around 4,79,692 tonnes of sand were seized and 9,689 vehicles seized. Cases were registered against 22 government employees involved in irregularities of sand.

Cases were registered against 82 policemen for conniving with sand and liquor smugglers. Also, 1,00,979 KG of ganja, 90,97,628 packets of ghutka, and 1120 of red sanders were seized. Officials also recovered Rs 4.92 crore of money from poker camps.

Chairing a review meeting of Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB), Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy asked agencies to take stringent action against sand and mining mafia.

He asked agencies not to spare anyone responsible for the loss of revenue through illegal land and liquor trafficking.

He said corruption should not be tolerated even at an organizational level. "SEB should raid vigorously and focus on illicit liquor smuggling from neighboring states. Honest and efficient officers should be deputed to Special Enforcement Bureau to ensure results in 15 days. SEB officials should hold reviews regularly. Incentives should also be given to the staff members," he said.

DGP Goutam Sawang, Revenue Special Chief Secretary Rajat Bhargav, SEB Commissioner Vineeth Brijlal, and other officials were present.