Opium plants worth over Rs 10 crore destroyed in Odisha; one arrested

In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics cultivation, authorities on Saturday destroyed opium plants worth over Rs 10 crore in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district and arrested one person involved in the illicit activity.

Officials said this is the first such case of opium cultivation detected in the district, raising serious concerns about the spread of illegal drug farming in the region.

One Accused Arrested

The accused has been identified as Nanda Kishore Sahu, a resident of Talapadar village under Raighar block. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officials from the Odisha Excise Department, in coordination with the Odisha Forest Department, carried out a joint raid in the area.

During the operation, authorities discovered a large-scale illegal plantation and destroyed more than 20,000 opium plants by burning them on the spot. Officials estimated that the market value of the destroyed crop exceeds Rs 10 crore.

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Following the raid, Nanda Kishore Sahu was arrested and later produced before a court. His bail plea was rejected, after which he was sent to judicial custody.

First In The District

Meanwhile, officials said further investigations are underway to determine whether similar illegal opium cultivation is being carried out in nearby areas. The departments have intensified surveillance in surrounding regions to prevent the spread of such activities.

Authorities stated that strict action will continue against those involved in illegal drug cultivation in the district.

"When we carried out the raid, there were approximately 22,000 trees, or even more than that. We uprooted and destroyed the trees in front of the magistrate. The approximate value of it would be more than Rs 10 crores. We also forwarded the accused person. Previously, things were happening, but we hadn't received any news about it. Everyone there, even locally, when we asked, said, ‘Madam, we don't know anything’. This is the first time we've seen such a tree, with such flowers blooming. We had never known about it," informed Ranjulata Barik, Excise Officer, Umerkote.