The Telangana Excise Department intensified inspections against non-duty-paid liquor (NDPL) and illicitly distilled liquor, registering 3,086 cases and arresting 2,707 persons over the past two months.The department registered 1,646 cases in the previous month and 1,420 in the current month. As many as 487 vehicles were also seized during the period.The intensified enforcement follows the involvement of local excise station staff, including inspectors and sub-inspectors, along with the Special Task Force, Enforcement and District Task Force teams in surveillance and inspections.The department has particularly focused on illicitly distilled liquor, citing the public health risks associated with its production and consumption. In July, officials seized 6,074 litres of illicit liquor, destroyed 90,740 litres of jaggery wash and seized 30,329 kg of jaggery.In August, another 5,010 litres of illicitly distilled liquor were seized. Jaggery wash capable of producing 73,480 litres of illicit liquor was destroyed at the spot, while 17,840 kg of jaggery was seized.Officials have also intensified surveillance against NDPL being smuggled into Telangana from States where liquor is available at lower prices, including Delhi, Haryana and Goa.In August, Mettupally Excise officials intercepted two consignments brought from the Bhiwandi and Haveli areas of Maharashtra. One consignment contained 70 boxes of liquor and the other 30 boxes.At Pahadishareef, officials have been intercepting liquor transported from Goa during vehicle checks. Excise teams have also started regularly inspecting tourist buses and trains arriving from Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and other tourist destinations.A total of 2,558 liquor bottles were seized during inspections over the past two months, with the confiscated liquor estimated to be worth around ₹50 lakh.The enforcement drive has also been extended to narcotics. Excise officials seized 872 kg of cannabis, valued at around ₹4 crore, during the two-month period, besides recovering other drugs. Published - August 31, 2026 08:03 pm IST