Kushiabill liquor seizure reignites debate over Nagaland's 37-year-old prohibition law

2,800 litres of suspected adulterated IMFL seized; bust highlights thriving black market under NLTP Act

Kohima, July 14: The seizure of 2,800 litres of suspected adulterated Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) at the Kushiabill Interstate Excise Check Gate has once again brought Nagaland’s decades-old prohibition regime under scrutiny, with the latest bust highlighting the persistence of an underground liquor trade despite a total ban.

Acting on specific intelligence, a seven-member Excise team intercepted the consignment on July 11 at around 7.50 pm and arrested two persons from Assam — Safikul Islam and Mrinal Sarma.

Officials seized 12 barrels containing about 2,800 litres of suspected adulterated IMFL, around 10 kg of colouring agents, along with empty IMFL bottles and carton boxes allegedly used to repackage the liquor as branded products.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the consignment had been loaded at Rangai in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district and was being transported into Nagaland.

Advisor for Excise Moatoshi Longkumer commended the Excise personnel for the operation and directed the department to intensify enforcement against the illegal liquor trade.

However, the seizure has also reignited questions over the effectiveness of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, which has remained in force for more than three decades.

A law under renewed scrutiny

Nagaland remains India’s only state with a blanket prohibition on liquor. The Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act, passed in 1989 and enforced in 1990, prohibits the manufacture, sale, possession, transport, import and consumption of alcohol. The legislation was enacted following sustained campaigns by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), which viewed prohibition as a means to curb alcoholism, domestic violence and social problems.

Despite the law, illegal liquor remains widely available across the state.

Government assessments in recent years have acknowledged that prohibition has not eliminated alcohol consumption and has instead fuelled a flourishing black market, with bootlegged IMFL and locally brewed liquor reportedly available in both urban centres and rural areas.

The Kushiabill seizure has also raised concerns over the growing circulation of adulterated liquor. The recovery of colouring agents, empty bottles and packaging materials suggests organised attempts to pass off spurious liquor as branded products, posing significant health risks to consumers.

Demand continues despite the ban

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has previously acknowledged in the Assembly that prohibition alone cannot eliminate alcohol consumption.

“As long as people drink, there will be demand, and supply will inevitably follow,” Rio had said, noting that the ban had unintentionally encouraged illegal trade and criminal activity.

The latest case also underscores the enforcement challenge posed by Nagaland’s porous borders. Investigators said the consignment originated in neighbouring Assam, a route that enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged as vulnerable to liquor smuggling.

Excise officials have intensified raids across the state and have been directed to document enforcement operations with photographs and videos to strengthen prosecution.

Yet, reports of illegal liquor outlets reopening soon after enforcement drives continue to raise questions about the long-term effectiveness of prohibition.

The Kushiabill seizure is among the state’s biggest recent liquor busts and serves as a reminder that, 37 years after prohibition was introduced, Nagaland continues to grapple with balancing the social objectives of the law against the realities of a resilient underground market.

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