Excise officers seize 2,800 liters of illicit liquor in Dimapur

Kohima: Excise officials intercepted two trucks packed with 2,800 liters of suspected adulterated Indian Made Foreign Liquor. The bust happened at the Kushiabill Interstate Excise Check Gate on July 11, 2026, at approximately 7:50 p.m. Agents acting on specific intelligence stopped the shipment.

Police arrested two men from Assam, identified as Safikul Islam and Mrinal Sarma. Officers found 12 barrels of liquor weighing 250 kilograms, 10 kilograms of coloring agents, and stacks of empty bottles and cartons meant for repackaging. The haul holds an estimated market value of Rs 14 to 15 lakh. Officials believe the booze originated in Rangai Karbi Anglong, Assam, and had a final destination of Maram, Manipur, for delivery to a contact named Raju.

Superintendent of Excise Limatemsu Changkiri confirmed that teams are sending samples for chemical testing to confirm the exact contents. He praised the seven personnel at the gate for the capture. Changkiri noted that advisor for excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, held a meeting to demand stepped up enforcement. Longkumer signaled a shift in how the department runs. "Promotions would be based on merit and performance and not seniority," he stated.

Longkumer told staff to push harder on raids across the region. He thanked the team for stopping the racket while calling for tighter strategies to shut down the illegal trade.