By JAMES KILA and ZACHERY PER
AN OLD woman and her son were arrested by police at Forapi village in Lufa district, Eastern Highlands province, for cultivating marijuana.
The woman, in her late 60s, and her elder son were arrested last Saturday by the Goroka Mobile Squad 14 following a tip-off by villagers in the area.
Police went into the area and raided her marijuana garden estimated to be quarter of a hectare.
In an interview with The National, the suspects said growing marijuana was a good source of income compared to coffee.
She said marijuana did not have a season and created a good source of income.
They said they sold marijuana to mainly expatriates, who send their contacts to fetch the drug in the village.
Because of her age, she was not locked up. Instead her elder son was locked up.
Recently Obura-Wonenara police made several arrests of students trafficking drugs to sell in Madang and Lae.
The students, when arrested, said they were selling marijuana to earn school fees.
Acting Eastern Highlands police commander Chief Insp David Seine said drug had become a major problem in the province.
He said marijuana trading in the province was rampant.
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