Addicts in Lufa district call it quits as drug operation gains momentum

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
SCORES of marijuana addicts in Lufa district, Eastern Highlands, have vowed to give up the drug.
It is one of the biggest breakthroughs for the Operation Stopim Drug organisation established in Western Highlands last year and which has spread its influence to neighbouring provinces.
Organisation chairman Justin Nikints said on returning to Mt Hagen from Lufa yesterday that all the councillors, presidents, village leaders, local MPs’ representatives, police and acting National Gaming Control Board chief executive officer Eddie Mike witnessed the drug surrender programme held at
Fore village on Thursday.
Nikints said it was the starting point for Eastern Highlands and the network would spread to other districts.
He said more than 7,000 mature marijuana plants were uprooted and burnt openly in public.
He said his organisation had made a big impact already in Western Highlands where more than 20,000 people from the six districts involved in smoking marijuana had vowed to quit the bad habit.
They are now actively involved in encouraging their peer groups to stop smoking marijuana.
Provincial police commander chief Supt Kaiglo Ambane was involved in the campaign as well.
Nikints said his organisation, comprising more than 20,000 members, was a non-governmental organisation and needed support from the government, local MPs and other stakeholders to eradicate the drug-related problems in the region.
He said they had already established a network at Moromaule village, in Gumine district, Chimbu.