THE Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) and other law enforcers has seized 299.8 kilogrammes of khat and destroyed 203 acres of illegally cultivated farms during a week-long special operation in Same District.

Aretas Lyimo, the DCEA commissioner general, said in a briefing yesterday that the operation was carried out on February 10 to 16, targeted Marieni and Mhero villages in Chome Ward, Kilimanjaro Region, to curb the production and sale of the narcotic leaves in the area.

Seven suspects were arrested in connection with the farms and khat haul, now awaiting legal proceedings, he said, surprised that the crackdown showed extensive flouting of the law despite sustained public awareness campaigns and repeated enforcement efforts in the region.

DCEA was providing education and conducting regular operations but a few individuals still choose to defy the law, he said, vowing not to relent in enforcing the law. Government efforts to improve livelihoods in the area include the provision of electricity, clean water and support for agricultural and livestock projects, he pointed out.

Many residents had already shifted to alternative crops such as onions, potatoes, cabbage, avocados and coffee, which offer legitimate income opportunities, he said, explaining that DCEA intends to maintain close cooperation with village, ward, district and regional officials, aside from other stakeholders.

The purpose is to intensify public education and carry out sustained operations aimed at eliminating khat cultivation in the region, he said after an operation which local leaders welcomed as timely and necessary.

Hamad Waziri, the Mhero village executive officer, said the intervention would significantly benefit the community, particularly young people who had been involved in the cultivation and consumption of khat.

“The impact of khat has been severe, especially among the youth. It has contributed to criminal activities and posed risks to the safety of residents,” he said, affirming that this operation will help restore discipline and promote lawful economic activities.

Residents also expressed support for the government’s efforts, with Rafael Kisenge, a mixed-crop farmer in Chome, pointing to the area’s fertile land and wide ranging opportunities in legal farming.

“We appreciate the government’s support system. With input subsidies, even small-scale farming can generate profits. There is no justification for engaging in illegal cultivation,” he declared.

Mohamed Mbwambo, a lorry driver and resident, noted that following intensified operations, several farmers had abandoned khat cultivation, while those who resisted were apprehended and subjected to legal action.

Residents need to regularly cooperate with authorities and actively engage in combating cultivating narcotic plants as community participation is vital for these efforts to be sustainable, the commissioner added.