Illegal Opium farm Unearthed in Sambalpur Dist; Rs 70 Lakh worth Poppy Cultivation Seized

Sambalpur: An illegal opium plantation was unearthed during a raid by Odisha Excise department officials and police on Sunday. This illegal opium plantation at Gopalpur area under Rairakhol police station in Sambalpur district was assessed to be worth Rs 70 lakh. Three persons were detained in connection with the case.

Around 10000 poppy plants cultivated on a 40-decimal land at the spot were seized by the joint team. The cost of the plants is estimated to be around Rs 70 lakh. Locals of the area also helped in this raid on the illegal poppy plantation.

Processed opium was also seized from the spot. According to sources, this is the first time when the inhabitants of the area have taken up opium cultivation. It I suspected that they grew it under the influence of people from neighboring Jharkhand.