Un 37enne del Nord Carolina, Cody Xiong, è stato arrestato nei giorni scorsi con l'accusa di traffico di droga dopo che le forze dell'ordine dello Stato americano hanno scoperto che coltivava un campo di papaveri da oppio del valore di svariati milioni di dollari.
Le piante, usate oltre che per l'oppio anche per morfina ed eroina, si trovavano su un terreno nella cittadina di Claremont, a un'ora d'auto da Charlotte. Il Washington Post, nel dare la notizia venerdì, valutava in mezzo miliardo di dollari il valore potenziale della coltivazione.
Secondo quanto dichiarato dall'ufficio dello sceriffo della contea, gli agenti hanno sequestrato oltre 900 chili di piante, armi da fuoco e munizioni, oltre a gatti, cani e numerosi galli da combattimento (358 animali in tutto).
La scoperta è avvenuta, come spesso accade, per puro caso. "Uno dei nostri agenti della Divisione narcotici ha bussato alla porta dell'uomo per un altro motivo", ha raccontato lo sceriffo Coy Reid, "e lui gli ha risposto "Immagino siate qui per l'oppio". Quindi, dietro l'abitazione, c'era il campo".
ATS/Reuters/EnCa
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