Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jan 2006
Source: Korea Herald, The (South Korea)
Copyright: 2006 Korea Herald
Contact:  http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/909
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

POLICE LOST IN A HAZE OVER MERIJUANA PLANTATION

As Indonesia steps up the fight against illegal drugs, hundreds 
hectares of marijuana are allegedly being grown in North Sumatra 
province by a drug syndicate and the police appear to be unable or 
unwilling to take action.

This was stated by North Sumatra councillors Ahmad Hosen Hutagalung 
and Mahmudin Lubis recently. They added that the marijuana plantation 
was in a mountainous area of Mandailing Natal regency.

The councillors said the plantation had been operating for some time 
but the police had not done nothing about it.

Councillor Ahmad Hosen Hutagalung said the plantation was the biggest 
in the province and that it covered hundreds of hectares.

"The existence of a major marijuana plantation in Mandailing Natal 
regency is an open secret. Even the police know about. But, 
surprisingly, no action has been taken against it," he said, adding 
that the councillors learned of the plantation while visiting the 
regency recently.

He said that based on reports from local people and officials, 
including the Mandailing Natal Police chief, the plantation was 
tightly guarded by armed guards and could not be reached by land.

Councillor Mahmudin said the marijuana was being grown by the 
syndicate in the Bukit Barisan mountain range.

He said that besides the armed guards, the area was also patrolled by 
a helicopter.

"We would urge the North Sumatra Police and military to immediately 
deploy a special team to destroy the plantation so that it does not 
create a bad image for the province as the country's biggest 
marijuana producer," Mahmudin said.

When asked about the marijuana plantation, North Sumatra Police 
spokesman Sr. Comr. Bambang Prihady said the police had heard of the 
plantation and were currently striving to ascertain its exact location.

"So far, we have had difficulty finding it as it is located in the 
mountains. But during a recent search, we found 30 kilograms of 
marijuana in the Tor Situe area. This shows that almost all the 
marijuana here is being grown in the highlands, which are hard for us 
to reach," Bambang told The Jakarta Post.

Responding to reports that the plantation in Mandailing Natal regency 
was heavily guarded, Bambang said he knew nothing about this. 
However, he explained that the helicopter spotted in the area was not 
guarding the marijuana plantation but was actually owned by an 
Australian company currently engaged in mining work in the area.

"We have no information that the plantation is being guarded by armed 
guards. We will have to investigate this," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman