Jaisalmer: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) seized 8.202kg of opium, including opium latex and manufactured opium, from an agricultural field in Barmer and arrested one person Monday. The contraband, estimated to be worth around Rs 85 lakh in the international market, was found buried beneath a ber tree.The operation was carried out jointly by the ANTF and Barmer Rural police and was the force’s second major drug seizure in the district within two days.Police inspector general, ANTF, Vikas Kumar said the latest action followed a seizure two days earlier in which the force recovered opium, manufactured opium and doda chura that had also been concealed underground.Following the earlier seizure, ANTF teams stepped up surveillance of locations allegedly being used by drug traffickers to hide narcotics.Acting on specific information, an ANTF team reached the house of Modaram in Juneja Mehron Ki Basti under Hariyali Gram Panchayat in Bharkha. He was allegedly involved in the buying and selling of narcotics and had concealed a consignment at his house and agricultural field.The team spotted Modaram in the field. During questioning, he allegedly gave no satisfactory explanation for his presence there. The ANTF informed local police and conducted a joint search of the house and field.During the search, officials found a pit dug beneath a ber tree. Packets containing 7.186kg of opium latex and 1.016kg of manufactured opium were found buried under soil.Police said the accused had allegedly concealed the narcotics underground instead of keeping them inside the house to evade detection.The ANTF has stepped up surveillance of suspected hideouts and drug trafficking networks in Barmer following the seizures.
