Aceh military seizes 59 tons of marijuana from 37-hectare field

Aceh military seizes 59 tons of marijuana from 37-hectare field

JAKARTA (JP): More than 59 tons (130,000 pounds) of ganja, or
marijuana, were removed from a 37-hectare field in the province
of Aceh last week.

Local Military Commandant Lt. Col. Tara said, besides 59 tons
of marijuana plants, the operation code-named Operasi Jaring
(Operation Netting) also confiscated 10 kilograms of seeds and 25
kilograms of dried marijuana.

"All the marijuana was burned at the site, except for 50
kilograms which is being kept as evidence," Tara was quoted by
the Antara news agency as saying Saturday.

In the past 12 months, authorities have discovered 200
hectares of land used to cultivate marijuana in Aceh. In 1989, a
military operation seized 100 tons of marijuana in the province.

Tara said that the first information about the illegal farming
came from the local people.

Based on the information, Operasi Jaring was launched from
July 1 through July 7, involving 40 military personnel and 100
local citizens.

Head of the operation, Let. Col. Rahmat Budianto, said that no
one was detained in the operation.

Budianto said that most residents living near the area were
unaware that the plants they had cultivated were marijuana.

The military told the local people to be aware of separatist
rebels who often lure local people with amount of money so they
will plant the drug. The marijuana trade is believed to be a
major form of income for separatists in the province.

The exact location of the marijuana field found earlier this
month was in Pasir Putih forest, some 140 kilometers away from
Kutacane in Aceh.

Tara said he was certain there were more marijuana fields in
the province and he vowed to find and destroy them. He said local
authorities are determined to crack down on marijuana syndicates
operating in and around the province.

"We will exert all of our efforts to crush all marijuana
syndicates and fields in this area," Tara said. (11)