Tanzania destroys marijuana farms in heightened anti-drug campaign

ARUSHA, Tanzania, Feb. 9– Tanzanian authorities on Wednesday
announced to have destroyed six hectares of marijuana planted inside a
forest in northern part of the East African nation.

Mwigulu Nchemba, Tanzania’s Minister for Home Affairs who lead the
operation, said the destroyed farms were found in Engalaoni village, one of
the villages located on the foothills of Mount Meru, the second tallest
peak in Tanzania after Mount Kilimanjaro. Nchemba said in an interview
that owners of the destroyed marijuana farms managed to escape, and the
manhunt is ongoing. He said the operation is part of the countrywide
anti-narcotics campaign aimed at making Tanzania free from illicit drugs.
The minister said the government will continue with the operation across
the country, warning people behind the farming, trading and transporting
marijuana to look for another job. He also tasked local governments to
offer support in the fight against marijuana.

Charles Mkumbo, Arusha Regional Police Commander, also said that all the
six hectares of marijuana planted in the area were burnt down. He also
noted that the fight against cannabis farming will continue across the
region, saying that in recent years perpetrators have changed tactics to
move away from police hands by farming the illegal crops in areas that can
not be easily reached.According to him, marijuana is widely grown on the
slopes of Mount Meru, protected by poor terrain and resistance from local
residents in Arusha region. – XINHUA