Zimbabwe police uncover marijuana 'plantation'

Zimbabwe police uncover marijuana 'plantation'

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By Staff Reporter

THE arrest of a small-time drug dealer has led Zimbabwean police to a massive marijuana plantation in the southern border town of Beitbridge.

A police raid led to the arrest of 29 people -- all suspected of providing labour on the marijuana farm measuring three hectares, the state-run Chronicle newspaper reported.

Police found over 1 500 marijuana plants -- some measuring over 2,5 metres -- in 26 fields.

The marijuana haul has a street value of Zim$15 billion.

Police suspect the marijuana cultivation has been going on for years.

Several officers from the Criminal Investigations Department in Beitbridge worked across two days on Saturday and Sunday to account for the massive stretch of marijuana plants, known locally as mbanje.

The stretch of the plantation moved along the Umzingwane in the rural outpost of Makakavhule, Detective Inspector Patrick Majutta of the CID said.

He added: “We actually got a tip-off from a suspect whom we had arrested in Dulibadzimu suburb with several twists of mbanje. The suspect then led us to an area in Makakavhule where we eventually discovered more fields along the Umzingwane River.

“Some of the suspects were caught red-handed watering the fields, while others had to be rounded up from the surrounding villages. We are still carrying out more investigations.”

All the suspects now face charges under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

More arrests could follow, police said.
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