A TOTAL of 1390 marijuana plants were uprooted by a team from the Police Special Response Unit during a drug raid on Kadavu last year.
This was revealed by Police Inspector Tomasi Bulimaibau in the High Court in Suva yesterday in the case of Joji Voravora, a Kadavu farmer who is charged with cultivation of illicit drugs.
He is alleged to have cultivated 45kg of marijuana that was confiscated during the raid on January 16 this year at Naikorokoro Village.
Insp Bulimaibau, the first prosecution witness, gave evidence under oath and said he led a team to Kadavu on the evening of January 15 as part of Operation Sasamaki to rid drug farms.
He said in his examination-in-chief that he received instructions to raid Mr Voravora’s farm.
He denied assaulting the accused at any point in time during the raid.
Insp Bulimaibau said they raided two farms that belonged to Mr Voravora and seized marijuana plants.
The plants and the accused were then handed to the Vunisea Police Station after the raid.
In cross examination, the court heard there were differences of the time that was recorded at the Vunisea Police Station of when the plants and the accused were handed to the station and Insp Bulimaibau’s statement.
The trial continues today.
Mr Voravora is represented by Priya Lal of the Legal Aid Commission and Meli Vosawale appeared on behalf of the State.
