Opium farming hidden among onion crops; 180 kg worth Rs 27 lakh seized

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Narayan Dhurat, a farmer and onion trader from Karanjgaon, Vaijapur tehsil, cleverly cultivated opium plants camouflaged among onion crops in his field (Gut No. 132), assuming both plants would look similar when in flower. However, the opium plants bloomed before the onions, exposing the operation. The local crime branch and Police inspector Satyajit Taitwale raided the farm early Saturday morning, seizing 180 kg of opium plants worth Rs 27 lakh. SDPO Bhagwat Phunde and Police Patil Savita Ugle also visited the scene. A case has been registered at Vaijapur Police Station.