Myanmar national sentenced to 20 years over hemp farm

11 March 2020
Myanmar national sentenced to 20 years over hemp farm
This picture taken on April 24, 2019 shows marijuana plants in Ngunzun township near Mandalay. Photo: AFP

A court in Myanmar has sentenced a local employee of an American-owned hemp farm to 20 years in prison for violating drug laws concerning marijuana, AP reported.

Shein Latt was one of three people arrested last April when police raided the 20-acre (8-hectare) plantation on an industrial estate in central Myanmar.

Police deemed the operation illegal because the farm was growing cannabis, which is against Myanmar law. Shein Latt said he was responsible for installing the farm's irrigation system, according to the AP report.