Takeo provincial authorities launched a crackdown on nearly 70 marijuana growing locations in Kirivong district on Tuesday 16 January 2018.[1][2] About 70 officers took part in the operation under deputy district police chief Yang Dara.[1][2]
Officers found marijuana growing at 69 locations in Chroy village in Preah Bat Choantok commune and burned a total of 16,270 plants at the scene.[1][2] They also found 84 irrigation wells dug to water the crop across 5,075 square metres.[1][2] Some plants had just been planted while others had already flowered.[1]
Mr Dara said the mountainous terrain made it hard for police to stop the growing, with people continuing to plant and dig wells.[1] Some of those responsible had been identified and would be sent to court, while forces were tracking other perpetrators, but nobody had been arrested yet.[1] District police chief Yuk Sarath said officials had burned 300,000 marijuana plants in the commune the previous year, and that growers kept planting for sale in Vietnam despite warnings.[1]
