Tanzanian police said on Tuesday they had discovered about 100 hectares of cannabis in Morogoro region’s five villages and arrested 12 suspects.

“The five villages that have a combined 100 hectares of cannabis are located along Mgeta valley,” said Wilbroad Mutafungwa, Morogoro regional police commander.

Mutafungwa ordered the leaders of the villages in Doma ward in Mvomero district to report to police within two days for questioning.

He said the cannabis plantations were discovered during a special operation by police in collaboration with other security organs that lasted for one week.

Mutafungwa said the nearest cannabis plantation was discovered about 30 km from a residential area at one village.

Mapambano Mkopi, Doma ward executive officer, said the ward authorities could not notice the presence of the cannabis plantations because they were located afar from the villages.

The discovery of the cannabis plantations is part of the government’s anti-narcotics crackdown aimed at making the east African nation free from illicit drugs. (Xinhua)