Two hectares of marijuana plantations destroyed

Two hectares of marijuana plantations destroyed

Police in Pursat province on Saturday destroyed two hectares of marijuana plantations and seized over 10,000 marijuana trees from three farms located in valleys in Veal Veng district.

Veal Veng district police officer, Captain Solei Metta said at 11am on Saturday district police forces, in collaboration with military police in Veal Veng, raided three marijuana farms located near Dei Krahom village, Anlong Reap commune.

Cap Metta said the police were alerted to the existence of the plantations after three villagers who climbed a nearby mountain on Friday spotted the crops.

After receiving the report, Cap Metta said the raid was carried out, but the owners fled before the police arrived.

“During the raid, district police forces found three farms covering a total of two hectares of state land situated in the valley,” Cap Metta told Khmer Times yesterday.

Police also seized over 10,000 marijuana trees and other drug-related paraphernalia, he added.

He added police are now searching for four men believed to be the owners of the farms.

“The owners are accused of planting marijuana trees without authorisation. If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison,” Cap Metta said.

He also said district police and the local authority have been involved in disseminating education and warnings to farmers not to plant marijuana as it is against the law.

However, he said people still planted and raised marijuana plantations because of the potential financial gains.

Credited: Khmer Times