Tanzania police in fresh sweep operation against marijuana, khat farming

Police have stepped up their crackdown operation on marijuana farming and business in northern Tanzania's region of Arusha.

The operation came at a time when the UN Report lists Tanzania as the second-largest marijuana producer in Africa after South Africa.

Arusha Regional Police Commander, Charles Mkumbo said on Friday that the operation will target marijuana and khat farming and the entire trade syndicate.

Arusha is one of the key regions for marijuana farming as most of the illicit drug is being produced on the slopes of Mount Meru - the second tallest mountain in Tanzania after Kilimanjaro.

"We are aware that Arusha is the leading regions for producing marijuana, which is produced in rough terrain on the slopes of Mount Meru...in this operation we're collaborating with the Tanzania's anti-illicit drug unit and other security agencies," the regional police chief said.

He cited some of the notorious areas for marijuana farming as Kisimiri and Mwandeti villages in Arumeru District, which is inhabited by a combination of Maasai, and Meru ethnic groups.

"These are the very notorious area for bhang farming,"he said.

Records show that the area has been leading for marijuana farming for more than 15 years as the illegal farming venture becomes the mainstay of the economy for some remote villages north-west of Arusha.

Mkumbo added that police were getting hard time to control farming in those areas because most of the farms are located in mountainous areas, making very difficult to reach there.

Salum Swalehe is one of the Arusha city residents, who said that farmers and dealers of marijuana have been changing tactics every day so that they remain free from the hands of law-enforcers.

"This makes difficult to end the illegal business," he said, revealing that in August every year is the main harvest season of marijuana, which offers farmers good cash compared to any other farming ventures.

Tenths of marijuana bales are daily brought down from Mount Meru by foot or loaded on donkeys and motorcycles using a route straddling a canyon and is deposited at a secret location near Oldonyo Sambu village.

Women are increasingly being involved in transporting bales of Marijuana while men scout the routes to make sure that they do not meet law enforcing officers.

It is said that marijuana consignments are taken to as far as Namanga border post, Arusha city, Mererani mining site and Dar es Salaam.

Some of it is destined to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, which serves as the distribution point for Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Sudan. Endit