Kohima, Aug 11 (IANS) Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Tuesday stressed the need to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and institutional capacity to effectively tackle the challenges posed by illicit liquor and drug trafficking in the state.
The Governor said that strengthening the relevant departments and enforcement agencies was essential to ensure that they continue to contribute effectively towards protecting public health, improving governance and building a safer society.
Yadav held a review meeting with the Department of Excise and Prohibition at Lok Bhavan in Kohima to take stock of the department’s functioning, enforcement activities, revenue collection and the challenges being faced by it.
During the meeting, department officials outlined its mandate under various Acts and rules, including the Nagaland Excise Act, 1967, the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1989, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Highlighting its enforcement activities from April 2021 to March 2026, the department reported cases registered under the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act as well as drug-related cases. The seizures during the period included India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), country liquor, poppy straw, opium, heroin, cough syrup and other drugs in the form of capsules and tablets.
On revenue generation, the department reported a total excise revenue collection of Rs 22.51 crore during the period from April 2021 to March 2026. The annual revenue collection increased from Rs 317.36 lakh in 2021-22 to Rs 591.96 lakh in 2025-26, reflecting a substantial rise in revenue generated by the department during the period.
The review also covered infrastructure development under the Excise Housing Programme for 2025-26, including the construction of Excise Offices at Phek and Peren and an Excise Bonded Warehouse at Dimapur.
The department highlighted its drug awareness campaigns, recent seizure operations and the destruction of seized drugs and liquor as part of its ongoing enforcement and public awareness efforts.
During the meeting, the department also apprised the Governor of several major challenges affecting its functioning. These included the porous borders with Myanmar, shortage of manpower, absence of cadre review since the inception of the department, discontinuation of inter-district check-gates, outdated firearms, limited operational mobility and persistent demand-driven illicit liquor.
The department noted that its personnel-to-population ratio stands at 1:6,000, compared to 1:2,000 in neighbouring Mizoram, highlighting the need for strengthening its human resources and operational capacity. The department’s future roadmap focuses on strengthening enforcement, combating organised crime, protecting public health, enhancing governance, increasing revenue, capacity building of personnel and advancing towards the goal of a drug-free Nagaland.
The Governor’s review meeting assumes significance in view of the continuing challenges posed by illicit liquor and drug trafficking, particularly in a state sharing an international border with Myanmar, and the need for coordinated and effective enforcement mechanisms to address the problem.
–IANS
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