Jaipur, May 6 : The Rajasthan Excise Department, under the direction of Excise Commissioner Namit Mehta, has intensified its crackdown on the illicit manufacture, storage, transportation and sale of liquor across the state through a special preventive campaign.

The drive, conducted from May 1 to May 5, resulted in large-scale seizures, destruction of raw materials and multiple arrests.

According to official data, a total of 633 cases were registered during the campaign, while 172 individuals were arrested in connection with illicit liquor activities.

Enforcement teams also seized nine vehicles, including one four-wheeler and eight two-wheelers.

During the operations, authorities confiscated 3,169 litres of country liquor valued at Rs 8.52 lakh, 798 litres of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 7.96 lakh, 1,199.45 litres of beer valued at Rs 2.62 lakh, and 3,698.5 litres of illicitly distilled liquor.

Significantly, 140,402 litres of â??washâ??, a key raw material used in illegal distillation, was destroyed across various districts. Adopting a zero-tolerance approach, excise preventive teams conducted coordinated raids, patrols and naka bandis throughout the state.

In Udaipur, officials seized large quantities of beer and arrested two accused, while teams in Gogunda and Kherwara destroyed substantial quantities of wash and illicit liquor.

In Chittorgarh district, extensive raids led to the recovery of thousands of liquor pouches and bottles, along with the dismantling of illegal distillation setups.

Similar action was reported from Banswara, Pratapgarh, Hanumangarh, Alwar, Bikaner, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Barmer, Bharatpur, Deeg, Dausa and Ajmer, where enforcement teams destroyed wash, seized illicit liquor and registered multiple cases.

In Bharatpur and Deeg alone, over 11,000 litres of wash and several distillation units were destroyed, while in Dausa, raids led to the destruction of 4,500 litres of wash.

Ajmer recorded 36 cases and 14 arrests during the campaign.

Officials said continuous monitoring, strict enforcement and coordinated action by zonal and district-level excise teams are being carried out to curb the illegal liquor trade in the state.

The department reiterated its commitment to maintaining strict vigilance and ensuring compliance with excise laws under its zero-tolerance policy.

/IANS