DCEA destroys 603 acres of cannabis farms, seizes 49 bags of cannabis in Morogoro

MOROGORO: THE Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has destroyed 603 acres of cannabis farms and seized 49 bags of cannabis during a special operation conducted in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects allegedly linked to the farms, while 21 camps used by cannabis growers were identified and destroyed.

The operation was conducted in Misengele, Lugenge, Kisaki and Nyarutanga villages as part of the government’s efforts to curb the production and distribution of illicit drugs in the country.

Speaking about the operation, DCEA Commissioner General, Aretas Lyimo, said the action was part of the government’s ongoing strategy to combat drug production, particularly cannabis, which continues to be cultivated in some parts of the country.

He said recent operations had revealed changes in the methods used by some cannabis growers, who have been moving their activities from areas targeted by enforcement operations deeper into protected areas.

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“We have established that some growers have moved their activities deeper into protected areas to evade legal action. This is contributing to significant environmental degradation through indiscriminate tree cutting, encroachment on water sources and damage to ecosystems,” Lyimo said.

According to Lyimo, an assessment of DCEA operations conducted since 2023 shows that despite the identification and destruction of numerous cannabis farms in Morogoro Region, some individuals have continued to shift production sites and hide their activities within protected areas.

He said the situation requires closer cooperation between the DCEA, security and law enforcement agencies, authorities responsible for protected areas and local communities to prevent protected areas from being used for illicit drug production.

Lyimo urged managers of protected areas to ensure that the areas under their supervision are not used for cannabis cultivation, stressing that combating illicit drug production requires cooperation between government institutions and communities.

Alongside enforcement operations, he said the DCEA would continue educating communities about the harmful effects of drugs and encouraging citizens to report individuals involved in the production, transportation and illegal trade of narcotics.

The measures are aimed at strengthening drug control efforts while protecting protected areas and the environment from illegal agricultural activities that could damage ecosystems.