A total of 37 Tasmac shops functioning within 500 metres of bus stands, places of worship and educational institutions in the district have been closed following directions from the State government, Collector S. Kandasamy said recently.

A weekly review meeting on the prevention of illicit liquor brewing, ganja and banned narcotic substances was held at the Collectorate.

During the review period from May 11 to May 17, officials seized 7.5 litres of toddy, 8.460 kg of ganja, 310 ganja chocolates, 291 illegally sold Indian Made Foreign Spirits (IMFS) bottles and 33 foreign liquor bottles containing 6.005 litres. Officials also seized 29.268 kg of banned tobacco products through joint inspections carried out by the police, Food Safety Department, local bodies and the Health Department.

The Collector said awareness programmes against drug abuse were conducted at 16 locations in the district. He instructed officials to ensure that liquor shops functioned in accordance with government norms and to continue action against banned narcotic substances.

Superintendent of Police D.V. Kiran Shruthi, TASMAC officials and Assistant Commissioner (Excise) T. Thiyagarajan were present.