Security Forces Continue Destruction of Cannabis Fields in Eastern Lebanon as Residents Protest

The Internal Security Forces and army resumed on Wednesday the destruction of cannabis fields in the town of Deir al-Ahmar in Baalbek as residents held a sit-in in protest.

The National News Agency said that the residents held a sit-in at the entrance of the town denouncing the ongoing operations.

They deemed it limited only to their lands and some neighboring areas.

The residents also demanded the government to carry out its promises to compensate the farmers and to find alternative crops.

On Wednesday, security forces continued destruction of cannabis crops in the town of al-Yammouneh in northern Bekaa.

There are over 30,000 dunums of cannabis crops in the northern Bekaa and security forces have so far destroyed around 6,725 dunums.

The area for long has been reputed as a fertile ground for drugs. During the civil war, the drug trade thrived into a multi-billion dollar business.