9 Feb 2011

Vanuatu police say people smoking marijuana at a local concert will be arrested

11:01 am on 9 February 2011

Vanuatu police have warned young people in Port Vila about using marijuana during a reggae music concert to be held at Parliament Park on Wednesday night.

The warning follows growing interest in the arrival of musician Ky-Mani Marley in Port Vila on Sunday.

Our correspondent reports the streets were crowded when Mr Marley was driven around the city.

Police say anyone found with marijuana at the concert faces immediate arrest.

The warning comes amid concerns at the increasing availability of marijuana in Vanuatu.

Recently plants were found in Parliament Park and police believe they came from seeds deposited during an earlier concert.

Last month police destroyed marijuana plants worth more than half a million US dollars.