Kohima excise department on Tuesday destroyed seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and narcotic drugs worth over Rs. 12 crore.
The destruction of seized contraband took place at the KMC dumping ground in Dzüruzou, Meriema, under the supervision of the destruction committee chairman, joint director of excise (narcotics), along with committee members, staff, and witnesses.
The deputy commissioner excise (zonal) Kohima, Venezolu Dawhuo, stated that the destroyed items included 17,511 bottles and cans of beer, 3.8 kg of heroin, and 9,000 bottles of codeine-containing cough syrup. The illicit items were seized between April 2023 and February 2025.
Dawhuo said that Kohima excise department had seized contraband, narcotics, and other drugs in multiple operations from April 2023 to February 2025, resulting in eight cases registered under the NDPS Act, 1985.
he seized narcotics were stored in Kohima excise office’s Malkhana for safekeeping.
Due to the lengthy trial process and limited storage space, DC excise sought permission from commissioner of excise Dimapur for pre-trial destruction of the seized items under Section 52A of the NDPS Act, 1985, which allows disposal of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
“A destruction committee was subsequently formed by the commissioner of excise for the pre-trial disposal of the seized narcotics and other drugs,” she added.
The seizures were made at Khuzama Interstate Check Gate and various locations in Kohima district including shops, hotels, and restaurants. A total of 1,328 cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 1,333 individuals. Fines amounting to Rs. 15.13 lakh were collected and deposited into the state exchequer, the department informed.