MALAWI ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE BOOMS

BLANTYRE, Malawi (PANA) - The Malawi police has said in 1999 alone police
recorded 952 cases of drug Trafficking in the country. Most of these
involved marijuana or cannabis, a weed that grows with minimal care in the
tropics like Malawi.

Police say in the past year they have seized 36,569 kg of the weed from
drug traffickers. According to deputy police spokesman Felix Nkhalamba, 970
suspects, 48 of whom were women, and 27 foreigners, were arrested on drug
charges during this period.

At least 384 drug-related cases have ended in conviction while trial for
the others is still pending. Nkhalamba said among the foreigners were five
Britons, seven Zimbabweans, five Tanzanians, four Mozambicans and two
Zambians. A South African, a Portuguese and a Canadian were also involved
in the secretive but lucrative and fast- growing drug trade.

Police statistics show that 80 percent of the total annual production of
marijuana finds its way across the borders to the lucrative South African
market. Some of it may even end up in European and American markets.
Malawi's brand of cannabis which contains cannabenoids - a chemical
substance that has the power of changing people's moods - is said to be one
of the most potent in the world. It is therefore a much sought-after drug
which makes it fetch thousands of dollars. Which is why despite being a
banned drug many people still grow and traffic in it in spite of the
knowledge of the risks involved.

Late 1999, the police arrested four people attempting to ship 17 50-kg bags
of the drug out of Malawi. Police estimate that had the contraband reached
the streets of Johannesburg or London, it could have fetched not less than
20,000 US dollars.

Perhaps it is this potential street value of marijuana that has led to
calls for the de-criminalisation of the weed from no less a figure than a
parliamentarian. Joe Manduwa, a member of parliament of the ruling United
Democratic Front (UDF) of President Bakili Muluzi, said with the increasing
demand for it, marijuana as a crop may just be the answer to Malawi's
economic ills. "But a lot of legal work has to be done before the crop is
registered," he said.

Manduwa, who is also a successful commercial farmer, proposed a pilot
project on the viability of the weed as a commercial export. But the MP
will have an uphill task to convince his fellow MPs to legalise the weed.

Nkhalamba said many young people take the drug believing they will be able
to read lots of books and therefore pass their exams with flying colours.

They, however, according to him, end up in mental clinics or involved in
violent crimes as addicts seeking money to support the habit. James
Mwenechanya, a social welfare officer in the ministry of Youth, Gender and
Community Services, also regretted that many young people, including
students, have taken deeply to weed smoking. "Cannabis has of late become
the most sought-after drug by young people. Students believe that if they
take the drug, they would be able to excel. Instead, it has spoilt their
future."

Police spokesman Oliver Soko said Malawi is also experiencing an influx of
imported processed hard drugs such as mandrax, cocaine and heroin. He said
government is trying hard to fight the drug trade. As part of its efforts
to fight the trade, two years ago the government launched a programme where
persons who provide leads to the police on drug traffickers and users would
be given a reward for their efforts.