Rs 50 Lakh Opium Crop Uprooted in Sundargarh Forests
Sundargarh: In a major crackdown, excise officials and police jointly destroyed illegal opium cultivation spread across more than five acres of forest land near Punupokhari village in Koida block of Sundargarh district.
The operation, led by the Koida Tehsildar, local SDPO, and police teams from Koida and Kebolang stations, uncovered opium crops valued between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh.
Two individuals from Jharkhand were detained, while several others managed to escape.
Authorities revealed that the opium mafia had cleared forest land to plant the crop, raising serious concerns about lapses in forest department vigilance.
A detailed investigation has been launched to trace the network behind the cultivation.
Officials emphasised that the incident highlights the growing challenge of illegal narcotics cultivation in remote forest areas and stressed the need for stronger surveillance and inter‑departmental coordination to curb such activities.
