Nearly 2,000 litres of illicit country liquor seized from forest in Odisha’s Cuttack

In a dramatic crackdown, the Athagarh Excise Department seized 1,995 litres of illicit country liquor hidden deep inside forest areas under Khuntuni police limits in Cuttack district, on Friday. The operation was conducted following a tip-off and led to the discovery of liquor jars buried underground in Dalua and Khanduali forests.

Also Read: Country liquor smuggled in cold drink bottles in Odisha seized, two arrested

Excise officials found that the liquor mafia had cleverly dug pits in the forest and stored multiple jars of desi liquor, carefully concealed beneath layers of soil to avoid detection. Several such containers were recovered during the raid, and a large quantity of fermented materials (pocha) used for brewing liquor was destroyed on the spot.

This covert setup points to a well-organised illegal operation, though the identities of the individuals behind it remain unknown. Authorities suspect a wider network at play and have launched further investigations to unearth the masterminds.

The raid not only disrupted illegal liquor activity but also exposed how forested regions are being misused by liquor mafias as safe havens for storage and production.

The Athagarh Excise Department has intensified its probe into the matter.

However, no comments were received from local police or the Excise Department in this regard.

Earlier in another incident, country liquor was being transported in cold drink bottles from Udala in Mayurbhanj district to Bhubaneswar, in a tricky smuggling attempt. Acting on a tip-off, police seized 110 litres and arrested two accused from Ambikadeipur village at Udala bus stand, on June 2 this year.

Police had conducted a raid and seized around 110 litres of the illicit liquor cleverly hidden inside soft drink bottles packed in six travel bags. Two individuals from Ambikadeipur village had been arrested in connection with the case.