After a six-month grace period, authorities in Mali have started to crackdown on shisha smoking with several arrests being made, reports africanews.

The government had announced the surprising ban on shisha smoking on 15 August allowing a six-month grace period for shisha bars and their clients to adapt to the new situation. With the passing of that moratorium, the country’s anti-drug agency has arrested dozens of people in the capital Bamako and seized water pipes, reports africanews.
A Facebook post by the Central Narcotics Office (OCS) stated raids had led to “about 50 individuals in prison and a large amount of seized material.”
“The grace period given by the authorities for importers, distributors, sellers and consumers of shisha in Mali is over,” the OCS said.
The ban, which has divided opinion in Mali, means anyone caught using shisha could face up to 10 days in prison and a fine of CFA 300 to 10,000 (USD 0.45 to 15).