ANTI-DRUG DELEGATION TOURS CANNABIS ERADICATION ZONE

An international delegation of anti-drug officers toured Wednesday the
Baalbek villages of Boudai, Iaat, Shleefa, and Flaway to inquire about the
cannabis eradication campaign, which has targeted over 70,000 dunums in the
past two weeks.

According to the National News Agency, US liaison officer B. J. Lawrence
praised the security forces' joint efforts, adding that following the tour
the delegation would submit a report to Washington and the US Embassy here.

Judicial Police commander Colonel Samir Sobh said destroyed cannabis fields
increased to about 71,000 dunums in the Baalbek-Hermel areas and 2,110
dunums in the North. He added that eradication work in the North was
completed two days ago.

Some 90,000 dunums will be destroyed by the end of the campaign late this
month, particularly after additional fields were discovered in remote
mountainous areas. The cost of the campaign has exceeded LL400 million,
Sobh said.