8 acres of marijuana destroyed
Police officers uproot marijuana at Namalimba village in Kikyusa Sub-county on Monday. PHOTO BY DAN WANDERA
Police in Luweero District have uprooted and destroyed eight acres of marijuana gardens at Namalimba village in Kikyusa Sub-county. The operation follows a tip-off from residents, who claimed the marijuana is smuggled at night by dealers.
Police, led by the District Commander, Mr Godfrey Ninsiima, on Monday arrested one of the suspects, who had allegedly attempted to swim through the waters of River Ssezibwa but was intercepted before crossing to Kayunga District.
“Some suspects are still in hiding but we already have one of the prime suspects. He led us to his four acre garden of marijuana which we destroyed,” Mr Ninsiima said.
The market
Namalimba LCI Chairperson Petre Luswata said the marijuana is sold to dealers in Kampala, Luweero Town and Kayunga District by people who travel in tinted cars at night.
“We did not know that the gardens are as large as we witnessed. Some of the marijuana is smuggled across River Ssezibwa to Kayunga District. We had no idea about the marijuana gardens because they are surrounded by papyrus swamps,” Mr Luswata said.
Police will have charges of possessing opium preferred against the suspects while the dry opium recovered from the homes of the suspects will be destroyed, according to Mr Ninsiima.
