Marijuana grown in Tanah Karo

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Security officers in North Sumatra are searching through the Tanah Karo woods for more marijuana plants following the discovery of a 3.5-hectare field of the plants and the arrest of five suspects on Tuesday.

The 2,000-square-kilometer Tanah Karo, located in the hilly Bukit Barisan area, has apparently been used as a place to grow marijuana, contesting Aceh province's reputation of a major marijuana producer.

The 3.5-hectare marijuana field was discovered in Kuta Mbelin village. Local residents said there are many such fields in the surrounding area.

Nine people have so far been detained, including the five who were caught on Tuesday and identified only by their initials. Chief of North Sumatra provincial police Lt. Col. Leo Sukardi suspect that around 50 people are involved in a syndicate of marijuana growers in the area, Kompas reported. (14)