Dhemaji Police on Tuesday arrested four minor drug peddlers apart from seizing a huge quantity of drugs, mobile handsets, a revolver and a dagger from their possession.

The drugs were seized during a police operation against the illegal possession of pan-masala and gutkha, which are being banned in the district in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

The police also destroyed country liquor of over 30,000 litres during the operation and also registered four cases in this connection.

Police informed that with the aim to prevent the sale of illicit liquor in the district, which may prove fatal.

In February 2019, t least 168 people died after drinking toxic bootleg alcohol in Golaghat and Jorhat districts.

The incident occurred two weeks after 100 people died by drinking toxic alcohol in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Most of the victims and affected people were from Golaghat district while others from surrounding Jorhat district.

It was the biggest tragedy concerning illicit liquor under the Sarbananda Sonowal regime.

The incident left the state in shock as people raised questions on whether the administration did enough to control the menace of illicit liquor in the state.