MARIJUANA peddlers are on the rise in the streets of Buka and nearby villages resulting in many arrests.
In the past couple of weeks, police have arrested many suspects in possession of the illegal drug.
Aita village in the Wakunai district of Central Bougainville is widely known as a place where the drug is grown, cultivated and dried for sale in the streets.
Tinputz district is also a growing and processing region that competes for sale in the streets of Buka.
Last week, Reynolds Hatsiere, a community member living at the turnoff towards Novah village in the Tonsu constituency made a citizen’s arrest on a drug seller, who is from Tinputz district. The peddler was brought to Buka police station with nine rolls of dried marijuana in his possession.
Last Thursday, police apprehended 32-year-old Andrew Monu of Aita village in Wakunai district, Central Bougainville, in the street in Buka and found three packs of dried marijuana on him. He was taken to the police station, charged and locked up.
Also on the same day, a community auxiliary police of Hagogohe constituency in Buka brought in two young men for smoking and in possession of the drug.
Despite the continuous awareness by the police and non-governmental organisations on drug and homebrewed alcohol in the region, there is an increase in the production of these two illegal substances.
credit:postcourier.com.pg