Wed Sep 25 07:23:14 UTC 2024: ## Indonesian Police Bust Massive Marijuana Plantation in National Park
**JAKARTA** – Indonesian authorities have seized an estimated 38,000 marijuana plants in a raid on a sprawling plantation within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java. The operation, conducted on Tuesday (Sep 24), uncovered a clandestine operation that had been active since January 2024.
The marijuana was planted across 1.5 hectares of rugged and isolated mountain terrain, a deliberate tactic to hinder detection by authorities. Police Director of Drug Detection for East Java, Robert Da Costa, stated that the terrain made it extremely challenging for officers to access the area.
Four suspects have been apprehended and investigations are underway to identify the key figures behind the illegal operation. Police believe the marijuana was intended for local circulation within East Java, although the plants were not yet ready for harvest in some areas.
This discovery follows the initial discovery of 453 marijuana plants on the slopes of Mount Semeru on Sep 19, triggering an extensive search effort. The seized plants were estimated to be between three and four months old and were standing between 1.5 and 2 meters tall, indicating they were nearing harvest readiness.
The bust comes amidst growing concerns about drug trafficking in Indonesia, which has some of the world’s toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. Cannabis remains illegal in the country despite global calls for legalization.
Police are actively expanding their search efforts, believing additional undiscovered fields may exist. Local residents have been providing crucial information and assistance to officers.
This is not the first time Indonesian authorities have uncovered large-scale marijuana plantations. Similar operations have occurred in recent years, including the seizure of 50,000 cannabis plants from a 5-hectare plantation in North Sumatra in 2022 and the destruction of 3.5 tons of harvested marijuana from two hectares of illegal fields in Aceh in August 2024.
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