Police Chief Leads Operation to Destroy Marijuana Fields in Aceh

Some 189 hectares of marijuana fields, capable of producing 75 thousand cannabis plants or 579 tons of illicit drugs, were spread across 23 locations in Aceh Province.

The National Police chief arrived at Lamteuba in Seulimeum Sub-district of Aceh Besar District to lead the effort along with some local officials.

Haiti also held a discussion with some local residents and farmers who earlier grew marijuana.

"This operation would not have been possible without the peoples participation," Haiti affirmed.

The authority not only destroyed the illicit plants but also offered solutions to the local residents to change their way of farming and switch to cultivating other economically viable plantations.

"Therefore, it is the governments role to empower the society by deploying some agricultural experts, so that the farmers of Lamteuba would not plant cannabis again," Haiti emphasized.

The clandestine cannabis fields were revealed as a result of the polices operation called Operasi Bersinar 2016, which prioritized law enforcement in an effort to curb the trafficking of narcotics.

Some of the fields were found in several regions in Aceh Besar District such as seven locations in Mountasik Sub-district and four locations each in Lambada Village and Lamteuba Sub-district.

Some other fields were found in four locations each in the Blang Pegayon Sub-district in Gayo Lues District and Beutong Sub-district in Nagan Raya District.

According to police estimates, one hectare can produce two tons of marijuana, thus roughly 579 tons of the illicit plant has been secured.

During the nationwide operation conducted from January until March 2016, the National Police has discovered some 332 hectares of marijuana fields, 1.4 million marijuana plants, 772 kilograms of dried marijuana, and some evidence of other illicit drugs and substances in addition to arresting 663 suspects involved in narco-trafficking.(WDY)