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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Zimbabwe: 25 arrested over dagga plantation
African News Dimension
Tuesday 09 May 2006 POLICE in Beitbridge have discovered three hectares of mbanje (cannabis) worth billions of dollars and arrested 29 villagers for allegedly cultivating the illicit plant along Umzingwane River. The crop, with an average height of 2,5 metres, was found on 40 fields dotted along the river that formed a massive mbanje growing syndicate. Detective Inspector Patrick Majuta, the officer in-charge of the Criminal Investigating Department in the border town, confirmed the arrests yesterday, saying investigations were still in progress. He said many more villagers might be arrested in connection with the growing of the hallucination-inducing drug which can have long-term psychotic effects. He said the syndicate was exposed when detectives arrested a man who had a twist of mbanje in Dulibadzimu suburb in Beitbridge town. "We arrested a man who was possessing a twist of mbanje and questioned its origin, resulting in him disclosing the source. "Our detectives then went to Makhakhavule Village, where they pretended to be customers and they found two elderly women watering plants about 2,5 metres high on average," said Detective Insp Majuta. He said a search of the two women’s homesteads led to the discovery of 40 kilogrammes of processed mbanje ready for the market. Det Insp Majuta said a search of the area was also conducted, resulting in the discovery of more fields with each having an average of 1 500 plants. A visit to the fields by The Herald revealed that all the gardens were situated along the bushy river bank, stretching for almost 3km. It also emerged that all the gardens had deep wells dug for irrigation purposes. Some people had already harvested their plants and had nurseries ready for the next planting season. Det Insp Majuta said according to their preliminary investigations, the drug is being smuggled into South Africa where there is a ready market. He said police believe that the mbanje plantations have been there for a period exceeding three years. Det Inspector Majuta said the other 22 suspects were arrested after police had rounded up all the villagers at Makhakhavule. He said most of the suspects were forthcoming and showed their gardens to the police. The other four suspects, he said, handed themselves over to the police yesterday afternoon. He said the suspects would appear in court today facing charges of breaching a section of the Dangerous Drugs Act. "It seems drug peddling is a source of livelihood for these people. Last year we arrested two people near the same area for similar offences. "One of the convicts is now late while the other is serving a three-year jail term," said Det Insp Majuta. http://www.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/0/Home/recent.fullStory&sp=l33870
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