An underground marijuana cultivation laboratory has been uncovered in Vitebsk

May 12, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. A clandestine laboratory for growing marijuana has been uncovered in Vitebsk. This was announced today at a briefing by Igor Essaulov, head of the department for drug control and human trafficking of the Oktyabrsky District Department of Internal Affairs of Vitebsk, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. A Vitebsk resident, who works at one of the enterprises in the regional center, was caught shoplifting in a store. During his search, a crushed mass of marijuana was found in his sneaker, which gave law enforcement officers reason to get acquainted more closely with both the 25-year-old young man and his dwelling. The latter turned out to be particularly informative: a laboratory for growing marijuana was equipped in one of the rooms of a private house. The Vitebsk resident brought special equipment (irrigation, feeding, lighting, temperature control systems, etc.) worth about Br3 million from Moscow. He ordered seeds from Holland via the Internet and through acquaintances from St. Petersburg. He obtained all the necessary information on cultivating the plant from the Internet. In total, during the search of the exotic plant enthusiast's home, 5.2 kg of marijuana (14 bushes) and about 100 g of ready-made crushed mass were seized. It is assumed that the young man planned to sell the narcotic substance among the city's youth. Two criminal cases have been initiated against the man for storing and growing a prohibited crop under Part 1 of Article 328 and Part 2 of Article 329 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, the maximum penalty for which provides for up to seven years of imprisonment. An investigation is underway. -0-