50 Tonnes of Ready-to-Harvest Cannabis in Aceh Destroyed
Aceh Provincial Police destroyed 20 hectares of cannabis fields scattered across several points in the Lampanah area, Aceh Besar Regency, with the total estimated yield reaching 50 tonnes.
Aceh Police Chief Inspector General Marzuki Ali Basyah stated that the cannabis fields were discovered by the Narcotics Directorate of the Aceh Provincial Police.
“Aceh Provincial Police found around 20 hectares of cannabis fields scattered across several points, with an estimated harvest yield of 50 tonnes. However, what was destroyed in Lampanah was three hectares,” he said in Aceh Besar on Wednesday (30/4), as reported by Antara.
Marzuki noted that the discovery and destruction of the cannabis fields were part of the Antik Seulawah 2026 Operation. The destruction involved personnel from the Aceh Besar Police Resort, TNI soldiers, local government officials, and others.
They also involved millennial young farmers as part of a long-term strategy to encourage the community not to plant cannabis. The destruction was carried out by uprooting and burning the prohibited plants.
“They are expected to become agents of change, socialising and educating the community to replace cannabis with productive commodities, such as coffee, vegetables, and other economically valuable crops,” he said.
He emphasised that the destruction of the cannabis fields is concrete evidence of seriousness in breaking the narcotics distribution chain, from upstream to downstream.
“We must not give even the slightest room for narcotics circulation, whatever the type. This is a real threat to the future of our nation’s generation,” he said.
Marzuki also stressed that in the future, Aceh should no longer be known as a cannabis planting area. Therefore, the destruction of fields must be accompanied by a preventive approach through education, community empowerment, and strengthening alternative economic options.
In addition to enforcement, he emphasised the importance of the role of all community elements in combating narcotics. He also urged the public not to hesitate to report if they find indications of drug abuse or circulation in their surroundings.
“Eradicating drugs is not just the duty of the National Police, but a shared responsibility. When the community dares to speak out and care, the room for criminals to manoeuvre will become increasingly narrow,” said Marzuki.