Nabarangpur, Mar 7: Excise officials have arrested a man for allegedly cultivating opium illegally in Talapadar village under Raighar block of Nabarangpur district. The accused has been identified as Nandakishore Sahu (49).

Acting on information, a joint team of excise and forest department officials conducted a raid in the village and destroyed 20,280 opium plants grown on about half an acre of land. During the operation, officials also seized 14 kg 300 grams of opium flowers.

According to excise officials, the estimated value of the seized opium and destroyed crop is around Rs10,14,22,480.

The accused was produced before a court and later sent to jail after his bail plea was rejected, said Excise Officer Brindaban Mandal.

The raid was conducted under the leadership of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Subash Khuntia. The team included excise officials Brindaban Mandal, Lina Badhanayak, Ranjita Singh, Debendra Samarth, Alekh Sabar, and Subash Gouda, along with excise staff from Dabugaon and Umerkote.