Aceh to get rid of marijuana

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: A police operation to free Aceh, the northern most province on the island of Sumatra, of marijuana will continue in 1997, chief of the Aceh Police Col. Suwahyu said here Tuesday.

In a year-end press conference, he said plantations of cannabis in the province were frequently developed by outsiders. "Unless the operation continues, Aceh will earn the reputation of being a cannabis center," he said.

During 1996, police burned plantations and launched a drive to persuade community and religious leaders to educate people about the ill-effects of cannabis.

Aceh police foiled last week an attempt to smuggle 12 kg of pressed marijuana to the nearby province of North Sumatra. Overall, police foiled attempts to traffic a total of 90 kg of cannabis, Suwahyu said.

No less than 33 persons suspected of planting, trafficking and using cannabis were apprehended in 1996. (swe)