POLICE in northern Tanzania were holding 17 people on Wednesday and had seized nine tonnes of marijuana, state-owned radio Tanzania reported on Wednesday. Quoting regional police commander Paul Ntobi in Mara, the radio said that the suspects were arrested in four villages, following a swoop launched after a tip-off by local citizens. Ntobi said some of the suspects were found in possession of dried marijuana, while others reportedly owned farms on which the illicit herb was cultivated. He said police were still investigating the issue before the suspects are taken to court to answer charges of being in unlawful possession of the narcotic substances. – AFP