While other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand are opening their minds to the medical and economic benefits of marijuana, Indonesia continues its war on the illicit plant, most recently with the uncovering of a camouflaged field of cannabis in the West Java regency of Purwakarta.
The 1.5 ha field was found by police in Purwakarta’s Paranggombong Village. Officials say the field contained some 1,300 cannabis plants, on average over one-meter tall, that were planted about three months ago and hidden among other non-narcotic crops.
“So the marijuana grower camouflaged [his plants] with corn plants, cayenne peppers and papayas,” said the head of the North Jakarta District Military anti-narcotics commission, Hery Nurcahyo today as quoted by Detik.
Hery said the disguise was successful enough that other local residents were shocked to learn that there was ganja growing in the field.
The investigation into the marijuana field began from the arrest of a young man, identified as AR, who was arrested in Yogyakarta. The results of the Yogyakarta Police interrogation of AR led them to the Purwakarta Police and together they uncovered the illicit greenery.
Under Indonesia’s draconian drug laws, the pot grower could potentially face the death penalty. Indonesia has executed criminals purely for marijuana possession in the past such as Indonesian national Zainal Abidin, who was executed in April 2015 (on the same day as two members of the Bali 9) for possession of 45 kg of marijuana and swore he’d get revenge on those who had sentenced him to death from beyond the grave.
Police have not yet stated how they will dispose of the massive cannabis crop but, judging from how they’ve done so in the past, we can expect a public eradication via burning ceremony that will be well attended by all the high-level officials.
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