Police arrest hashish 'mafia'

LHOKSEUMAWE, North Aceh: Police here arrested eight people with suspected links to a hashish syndicate and confiscated around 32 kilograms of hashish in a raid on Saturday.

Local police chief Lt. Col. Iskandar Hasan said the evidence comprised four kilograms on Saturday night, 20 kgs Tuesday night and another eight kgs in the Bireuen area also on Tuesday night.

The suspects were identified as residents of Aceh Besar and south Aceh and in their 20s and early 30s.

The raid included members of the local military and traffic officials, Iskandar said as quoted by Antara.

The suspects were caught in public transport vehicles, following reports by bus conductors. One had planted 22 hashish trees in his yard.