₹1 Cr Opium Crop Uprooted in Sundargarh Crackdown

Sundargarh police and excise officials jointly destroyed illegal opium cultivation valued at nearly Rs 1 crore in Kusumadihi under Koida police limits.

The contraband crop, spread across nine acres of government land, was uprooted in a coordinated crackdown against cross-border narcotics networks.

Two suspects were detained during the operation, though one managed to escape custody while being taken for medical examination.

Police fired warning shots in an attempt to stop him, but he fled. Authorities have launched a manhunt to recapture the fugitive.

Officials revealed that the cultivation was linked to organised mafia groups operating between Odisha and Jharkhand. The excise department confirmed that the entire crop was destroyed to prevent trafficking.

Investigations are ongoing to identify associates and dismantle the wider network.

Law enforcement emphasised that such operations are crucial to curbing large‑scale production and protecting communities from the spread of narcotics.