Greek Police Destroy Cannabis Field In Corn Plantation, Value Of IDR 256 Billion

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The Greek police destroyed 8,300 cannabis stems illegally cultivated in corn plantations.

Authorities removed about 1,300 plants, police officials said on Friday, and destroyed 7,000 other plants, some of which reached 3.5 meters high.

A 44-year-old farm owner was arrested on charges of growing illegal marijuana and drug trafficking as part of a criminal group.

As reported by Reuters, Friday, October 4, authorities estimate the group aims to make an illegal profit of 15 million euros, equivalent to Rp256 billion.

Greece legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 2017 and a year later lifted its ban on growing and producing it. Ownership, production and sale of marijuana for recreational purposes is still an illegal act.

Marijuana is the most commonly consumed illegal drug in the world and most of the herbal marijuana detected in the EU appears to be cultivated locally, in the 27-member bloc, according to the EU's Medicines Agency.

Police operations in the West Balkan region in recent years have led to a sharp decline in the seizure of herbal marijuana.