Thiruvananthapuram: The excise department has registered 45,637 cases in Kerala during the last 5 months, between January-May 2023. This includes 2,740 drug cases as well.

Drugs including 4.04 kilograms of MDMA, 4.03 kilograms of Hashish oil, 2.727 grams of LSD, and 1,184.93 kilograms of Marijuana were seized during this period. The estimated worth of these narcotic/drug products are around Rs 14.66 crores. While 578 vehicles were seized in connection with such cases, 2,726 individuals were put behind the bars after being proven guilty. 

During the first five months of the year, 8,003 abkari cases and 34,894 cases related to tobacco products were also registered.

Ernakulam topped the list with 358 drug cases during the time period, while Kasaragod district stood at the bottom with 31 such cases in the last 5 months.

Minister M B Rajesh praised the excise officials for their commendable job so far. It should be noted that narcotic surveillance has been stepped up in schools-colleges across the state, and excise mobile intervention unit (KEMU) was also successfully set up on the state borders for tackling drug menace.