Malawi Police Crack Down on Illegal Indian Hemp Cultivation

Dowa Police arrested Timothy Banda, 25, for cultivating Indian hemp without a license in Lirambwe Village on October 15, 2024.

A tip from concerned citizens led to his arrest. Banda confessed to growing Indian hemp on his quarter-acre farm, about five kilometers from his village, along the Chaliwe Dambo River.

Police destroyed approximately 4,000 plants ready for harvest.

Banda, from Lirambwe Village under Traditional Authority Mkukula in Dowa District, will face court charges for illegal cultivation.

This incident highlights ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized Indian hemp cultivation in Malawi.

In similar cases, individuals have faced arrest and prosecution for violating laws regulating Indian hemp cultivation.