SECURITY FORCES TARGET CANNABIS FIELDS

7.5 Milion Meters Of Crop Destroyed

BEKAA: An estimated total of 7,540,000 square meters of cannabis fields
have been destroyed in Baalbek and eastern Bekaa over the past two weeks in
an attempt to stop drug trafficking and drug addiction in the country.

According to security reports, the effort was undertaken by the Anti-Drug
Bureau in cooperation with Internal Security Forces in the Bekaa and forces
of the Lebanese and Syrian Armies.

Six dunums of cannabis plants were uprooted beginning on July 28, and later
665 dunums on Aug.2, 469 dunums on Aug.3, 4,000 dunums between Aug.4 and
Aug. 6., and 1,400 dunums between Aug.9 and Aug.10 were destroyed.

Security forces coordinated with helicopters from the Lebanese Air Force to
locate cultivated lands and tractors were rented to destroy the crops.

A haul of 250 kilograms of hashish was also discovered in the basement of a
house in a remote area in Baalbek, according to the same reports.

The haul was believed to be destined for a foreign buyer.

The Anti-Drug Bureau said the cannabis destruction effort is expected to be
completed within the next 10 days. - The Daily Star