Bhubaneswar, March 20 -- A joint team of Odisha Excise department officials and police unearthed illegal opium plantation worth around Rs 70 lakh at Gopalpur area under Rairakhol police station in Sambalpur district on Sunday and detained three persons in connection with the case.

According to sources, this is the first time when the residents have opted to cultivate opium in the area under the influence negibhouding residents of Jharkhand.

The joint team has also seized around 10000 plants cultivated on a 40-decimal land. The cost of the plants will be around Rs 60 lakh to 70 lakh, informed Excise Superintendent Ashok Seth.

"Act on a tip-off about illegal opium cultivation, we along with local police carried out raids in Gopalpur area...