Man held for cultivating poppy plants illegally in UP's Prayagraj

PRAYAGRAJ: A joint team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Special Task Force (Prayagraj unit) on Sunday arrested a man for illegally growing poppy plants in Malaq Payagi village in the trans-Ganga area. The team seized opium poppy plants which were being cultivated in an area of 4,200 sq ft.
The arrested man, identified as Maan Singh Patel, is a resident of Malaq Payagi (Khargapur).
Additional SP (STF) Neeraj Kumar Pandey said, “This was the first time when STF has nabbed a man on the charges of illegally cultivating opium in the district. The cultivation of opium is permitted only in four districts of Uttar Pradesh including Barabanki, Badaun, Bareilly and Ghazipur.”
“Acting on a tip off, a joint team of STF, NCB and revenue officials conducted a raid and arrested the accused. The team also seized opium poppy plants being cultivated at gata number (agricultural fields numbers) 613 and 617,” he added.
The accused had grown the mustard crop around the opium poppy crop field to hide the cultivation of “poppy plants”.
The joint team of NCB and revenue department destroyed the entire crop of poppy plants as per the norms on the spot. A case under section 8\18 and 48 of NDPS Act has been lodged in this connection.
“There has been a dispute over ownership of land regarding field no 617 and one can’t cultivate more than two poppy plants without obtaining license,” said a revenue official.
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) provides license for poppy cultivation, the official added.