AP SEB seizes 7,222 kg of ganja, arrests 710 persons in May

 Vijayawada: Officials of Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) seized 7,222 kg of ganja and arrested 710 persons as part of their special drive against transport and sale of ganja, drugs, ID liquor, red sanders and other prohibited goods in the state during the month of May.

In a statement released here on Tuesday, SEB authorities said bureau personnel, along with police, booked 169 cases related to ganja and seized 92 vehicles. In addition, they seized 3,100 pentazocine injections and 4.23 gm of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine and arrested five persons.

SEB booked 1,215 cases against illicitly distilled liquor, arrested 1,724 persons, seized 13,828 litres and 1,198.5 kg of jiggery, and destroyed 1,21,135 litres of fermented jiggery, besides impounding 103 vehicles.

With regard to non-duty paid liquor, 896 cases have been booked following seizure of 11,353 litres of liquor and 1,664 litres of beer. 1,007 accused in these cases have been arrested.

Sleuths of the bureau raided 556 unauthorised retail liquor outlets, popularly known as belt shops. They arrested 588 persons and seized 1,706.24 litres of liquor and 144.6 litres of beer, in addition to seizure of 40 litres of toddy.

With regard to illegal smuggling of red sanders, 30 cases have been booked and 161 persons arrested. 264 logs have been seized.

SEB has booked 168 cases against illegal transport of sand, seized 1,705 tonnes of sand and arrested 248 persons. ₹1.76 crore have been seized from 2,910 persons in 582 cases of gambling and betting.

Eight persons have been arrested under the Preventive Detention Act for continuing to deal in arrack despite being arrested earlier for these offences. 12 persons have been arrested under non-bailable warrants.