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Authorities deny closing Semeru National Park over illegal cannabis farms
In September of last year, the Lumajang Police discovered approximately 6,000 square meters of cannabis crops spread across 59 locations within the popular park and arrested six individuals from a nearby village in connection with the illicit activity.
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Illustration of a marijuana plant. (Courtesy of Jeff W/Unsplash) (Unsplash/Courtesy of Jeff W/Unsplash)
T
he management of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) in East Java has dismissed rumors linking the recent closure of Mount Semeru and other areas within the park to the discovery of marijuana farms within the conservation area a few months ago.
In September of last year, the Lumajang Police discovered approximately 6,000 square meters of cannabis crops spread across 59 locations within the popular park and arrested six individuals from a nearby village in connection with the illicit activity.
As the trial for the case recently began, videos circulating on social media accuse park management of intentionally closing the Mount Semeru hiking route "to harvest" more cannabis farms hidden within the park.
Additionally, internet users have claimed the park introduced a regulation charging visitors Rp 2 million (US$121) to use drones and requiring visitors to hire park-approved guides, allegedly to prevent tourists from uncovering the suspected illegal operation.
Park management head Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha emphasized that the closure of the Mount Semeru hiking route is not connected to the cannabis farm case.
“We regularly close the hiking route on Mount Semeru during the rainy season, which typically peaks at the start of the year. This significantly increases the risk of strong winds, storms, landslides and falling trees, all of which pose a threat to the safety of visitors,” he explained in a statement on Tuesday.
Rudijanta also clarified that the cannabis farms were located far from both the Mount Semeru and Mount Bromo hiking routes, which are popular with tourists.
