Smugglers active in MP opium belt

Neemuch, MP, Mar 29 (UNI) Even before government purchase of opium gets underway in Malwa region's Neemuch, Ratlam and Mandsaur districts, local smugglers and those from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are becoming active for buying the crop at much higher price.

Official sources claimed that Narcotics Department sleuths and police arrested 18 smugglers from Rajasthan and Punjab over the past fortnight and seized more than 90 kg opium.

Four smugglers from Punjab and Rajasthan were apprehended near Jaora in Ratlam and counterfeit currency amounting to more than Rs 1 lakh seized. The accused were on the way to purchase opium. Cases came to light about smack being made in the opium-abundant areas.

Last month, 10.5 kg smack was seized in Neemuch.

The Central Bureau of Narcotics would begin opium purchase on April 3. The crop is cultivated in Ujjain and Dhar districts as well. This year, 24,153 farmers were given opium patta (deeds) for 3,400 hectares of which 3,013 ha are in Neemuch, Mandsaur and Ratlam districts. The government fixed a minimum Rs 750 and maximum Rs 2,200 per kg on opium.

''Strict monitoring is in place to check smuggling and peasants are being told to sell their entire produce to the government,'' said Assistant Commissioner (Narcotics) Raveendra Das.

UNI