Jalore News: Police Uncover Massive Illegal Opium Farming Worth Over One Crore Seventy Lakh Rupees
Jalore News: Jodhpur Range police seized an illegal opium cultivation worth one crore seventy lakh rupees during a raid today. The IG Jodhpur Range, Vikas Kumar today led the team of police during the raid on one bigha land, during the ongoing ‘Bhoukal’ campaign. The operation targeted drug trafficking, alcohol smuggling, illegal sand mining and wanted criminals. The estimated value of the opium plants is one crore seventy lakh rupees. The police team was surprised to see the quantity of opium plants.
Operation “Bhoukal” Leads to Major Bust
Police said that on a tip-off, a team of Bishangarh police led by station officer Nib Singh conducted a raid in the Alana border area. The operation was monitored by SP Gyan Chand Yadav, ASP Motaram Godara and CO Gautam Jain. Police found 1, 05, 000 opium plants illegally cultivated in about one bigha land. The plants were packed in 150 jute sacks and weighed 3, 153 kg, including sacks.
Two persons, Jagdish alias Jagtarram and Sakaram, were arrested on the spot. They hail from Barmer district and were cultivating opium in between castor crops so as to escape detection. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and further investigation is on.
The Accused’s Clever Tactics and Ambitious Plans
One of the accused Jagtarram learnt how to cultivate opium by visiting Mangalwad village near Chittorgarh, he said, adding that he also took tips from YouTube. He brought opium seeds from Mangalwad three months ago and cultivated them in between castor crops to escape suspicion.
He would collect the opium milk and the poppy husk (doda post) from the plants and sell them at marriages and other social gatherings in the neighbouring villages. He would use the money to buy more land and expand his illicit opium business.
Illegal Opium Farming – Staggering Value of the Seized Opium
According to the Central Board of Narcotics and Narcotics Control Bureau, 90, 000 opium plants can be cultivated in one acre which produce 25 kilograms opium milk and 182 kilograms poppy husk. At the current market rates — five lakh rupees per kilogram for opium milk and fifteen thousand rupees per kilogram for poppy husk — the seized plants are worth one crore seventy lakh seventy thousand rupees.
Police Appeal to the Public
SP Gyan Chand Yadav urged the people to refrain from using drugs and also to inform the police about the sale of illegal narcotics like doda post, opium milk, smack or MD. He said that the Jalore police would take strict legal action against the culprits and would keep the identity of the informers secret.
You can also share information on the district police control room’s WhatsApp helpline number: 7727050726
The sting operation was carried out with the active co-operation of Station Officer Nib Singh, Head Constables Anil Kumar, Chetanram and Dungararam, Constables Parbatsingh, Gangavishnu, Badri Narayan, Hadmanaram, Khetaram, Viramaram, Viramsingh and Driver Constable Mukesh Kumar. Constable Nainaram played a pivotal role in the arrest.
This is an important step forward in our fight against illegal drug production and trafficking in the region.
