HUNDREDS OF KILOGRAMS OF MARIJUANA DESTROYED IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, July 19 (ANTARA) - Local authorities destroyed 371 kgs of dried ganja (marijuana) leaves and hundreds of bottles of alcoholic drinks in Central Aceh district on Saturday.

"The destruction of the dried ganja and alcoholic drinks is proof of the seriousness of law enforcers in cracking down on illegal drugs and alcoholic drink circulation in our region," Central Aceh District Head Nasaruddin said in Takengon on Saturday.

He said the dry ganja leaves were destroyed by burning them.
The district head called on the local people, the younger generation in particular, not to consume the illegal goods which were banned not only by the state but also by Islamic sharia (law).

The chief of the Takengaon Prosecutor's office, Ahmad Darmansyah, said 251 kg of the ganja leaves had been confiscated from 42 people convicted by the Takengon district court for drug offenses.

The remaining 120 kg of ganja leaves had been collected by police during anti-drug operations in Central Aceh in 2008.

During the operations, police also confiscated 282 bottles of alcoholic drinks of various brands, he said.

Narcotics Board Chairman of Central Aceh District, Djauhar Ali said the threat of narcotics was a world problem. Therefore, students and young people should not consume the illegal drugs.