Drug crackdown in 2025: Telangana Excise seizes Rs 9.40 crore worth narcotics, books 1,304 NDPS cases

Hyderabad: In a major push against narcotics, Telangana’s excise enforcement agencies registered 1,304 NDPS cases in 2025 and seized 5,505 kg of ganja, along with significant quantities of synthetic drugs.

The enforcement agencies also arrested as many as 2,333 offenders and confiscated 646 vehicles, with the total value of contraband pegged at Rs 9.40 crore.

This marked one of the most intensive anti-drug crackdowns in recent years, according to the Annual Report 2025, released by Excise Commissioner C Hari Kiran.

Multi-state supply chains under scanner

Acting on government directions to adopt a zero-tolerance approach, excise enforcement teams intensified surveillance on drug and ganja trafficking networks linked to Bengaluru, Goa, Pune and Delhi, besides areas inhabited by foreign nationals.

Officials said these regions were identified as key sourcing and transit points for narcotics entering Telangana.

Odisha–Visakhapatnam ganja route monitored

Special focus was placed on ganja trafficking routes originating from Odisha’s Malkangiri district and passing through the agency areas of Visakhapatnam. Continuous monitoring and targeted interceptions along these corridors helped disrupt the movement of contraband into the State.

Joint operations with enforcement agencies

The Excise Department carried out coordinated operations with TGNAB, police, SOT and other intelligence agencies, enabling real-time intelligence sharing and swift action against traffickers. Officials said inter-agency coordination significantly improved detection and seizure rates during the year.

Arrests and vehicle seizures rise

By December-end, enforcement agencies had arrested 2,333 persons in NDPS cases and seized 646 vehicles used for transporting narcotics. The sharp rise in arrests, compared to 2024, reflects sustained field-level enforcement and improved surveillance mechanisms.

Ganja and plant seizures

During 2025, enforcement teams seized 5,505 kg of ganja and uprooted 1,646 ganja plants across various districts. Officials said these actions weakened local distribution networks and deterred fresh cultivation.

Synthetic drugs recovered

Apart from ganja, large quantities of synthetic and high-value narcotics were seized during raids, including:

- 72.54 kg of ganja chocolates

- 728.2 grams of MDMA

- 105.27 grams of cocaine

- 127 grams of heroin

- 228 grams of LSD blots

- 36.79 kg of alprazolam

- 17 grams of diazepam

Crackdown on non-duty paid liquor

To protect excise revenue, enforcement teams intensified checks on the illegal inflow of non-duty paid liquor from neighbouring regions such as Delhi, Goa and Haryana.

Liquor sold at concessional rates for tourists in other States was being smuggled into Telangana via trains, buses, flights, cars and transport vehicles.

In 2025, enforcement teams seized a record 11,500 litres of NDPL liquor, compared to 8,766 litres in 2024 — an increase of nearly 3,000 litres year-on-year.

NDPL Enforcement Data (2025):

Cases registered: 1,141

Liquor seized: 11,500 litres

Vehicles seized: 102

Estimated value: Rs 1.15 crore

(2024: 808 cases, 8,766 litres seized, 80 vehicles)

Illicit liquor (gudumba) on the decline

The Excise Department reported a sharp reduction in illicit liquor (gudumba) manufacturing, sale and transport in 2025. While several districts have become gudumba-free, limited activity persists in a few pockets, mainly in tribal hamlets.

A strategic shift was made by targeting raw materials such as jaggery and alum used in brewing, rather than only raiding distillation units.

Gudumba seized in 2025: 67,000 litres

Gudumba seized in 2024: 1.07 lakh litres

Officials estimate that illicit liquor brewing has been eliminated by nearly 90 per cent across Telangana.

Raw material seizures and penalties

In an unprecedented drive during 2025, enforcement teams seized:

- 3,07,557 kg of jaggery

- 31,981 kg of alum

- 2,204 vehicles

Cases were registered against 13,369 persons, with fines amounting to Rs 1.39 crore imposed. About 8.22 lakh litres of jaggery wash were destroyed and raw materials worth Rs 3.38 crore were seized.

Noteworthy seizures of 2025

The year witnessed several landmark cases, including:

- Seizure of 410 kg of ganja during illegal transport in Medchal.

- Recovery of 425 kg ganja and 1.2 kg alprazolam in Nirmal; two vehicles seized.

- In Palvancha, seizure of 106 kg ganja, six pistols, 40 bullets and two vehicles — the first instance of firearms being detected by excise teams.

In Suryapet, seizure of 162 cartons of spurious liquor, 860 litres of spirit, 7,814 labels and 11,800 empty bottles.

In Sangareddy, 205 kg of ganja was seized while being transported in a septic tank vehicle.

Special drives throughout the year

To sustain pressure on offenders, the department conducted 14 special drives in 2025:

NDPL: 4 drives

NDPS: 4 drives

Spurious toddy: 2 drives

Illicit liquor: 3 drives

‘Stronger resolve going forward’

The Commissioner said the achievements of 2025 underscore the improved coordination, intelligence-sharing and operational efficiency of the Telangana Excise Department.

Enforcement efforts would be further intensified to eliminate remaining pockets of illegal liquor, drugs and ganja, while safeguarding public health and State revenue.