Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Excise Minister M Liju on Sunday said the Excise Department registered 20,669 cases and arrested 4,616 people as part of the enforcement activities in the state since the UDF government came to power on May 18.

The action was under "Operation Thunder", the enforcement arm of the Excise Department’s anti-drug campaign "Mayangilla Keralam".

In a Facebook post, the minister said the Excise Department conducted 24,131 raids across the state from May 18 to July 11.

Of the total cases, 1,983 were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 3,444 under the Abkari Act and 15,242 under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), he said.

The Excise Department seized 268 kg of ganja, 324 cannabis plants, 292 grams of heroin, 846 grams of MDMA, 924 grams of methamphetamine, 185 grams of hashish oil, 503 litres of illicit liquor, 9,135 litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), 756 litres of spirit and 24,925 litres of wash during the enforcement drive, Liju said.

A fine of Rs 30.45 lakh was also collected in COTPA cases during the period, he said.

Liju said 'Operation Thunder' was launched as part of the 'Mayangilla Keralam' anti-drug campaign after the UDF government assumed office to intensify enforcement against narcotics and substance abuse.

The minister said the Excise Department would continue its uncompromising fight against drug abuse and illegal narcotics across the state.