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Over 1,000ha Of Cannabis-Cultivated Land Destroyed In Northern Morocco
Mahgreb Arabe Presse | 06/23/2006

Larache -- Some 1,065ha of cannabis-cultivated land has been destroyed in a large operation in the northern city of Larache, said local authorities.

(BuzzNote: An "ha" or hectare is equal to 2.47 acres.)

Authorities used agricultural engines, manual lifting and pesticides to destroy these lands.They also launched an awareness-raising campaign in favor of farmers to convert their activities to alternative agricultural activities, as some 96,600 families live on the cannabis cultivation in Morocco.

The kingdom has made of the fight against drug cultivation and production a national priority, which resulted in a 10% decrease of cannabis cultivated land in 2004 (from 134,000 hectares in 2003 to 120,500 hectares in 2004).

Morocco also seized 318 tons of cannabis in 2004, a rise of 361% in drug seizures compared to the previous year (96 tons).

The Moroccan government also upped its legal arsenal to fight drug, including prison terms that could fetch 30 year and fines amounting to 20,000 and 30,000 dollars.

In its 2006 report on strategies to control drugs worldwide, the American State Department “Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs” commended the results reached by Morocco in fighting drugs through campaigns to eradicate cannabis growing, and cooperation with the UN office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).

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