Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five suspects and seized over 682 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa also known as indian hemp in Ondo State.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
The statement named the suspects as Victor William, 42; Akeem Azeez, 27; Godwin Benson, 30; Muhammed Awwal, 34; and James Timothy, 18.
It stated that the arrest of the suspects was made possible following credible intelligence and raid of cannabis frams in Ipele forest, Ose Local Government area of the state.
The statement read: “In Ondo State, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 10th November arrested two suspects: Victor William, 42, and Akeem Azeez, 27, at Olabi village bush after they brought out bags of the illicit weed for sale.
“The suspects subsequently led the operatives to their store, where a total of 50 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 560kg was recovered.
“On Friday 13th November, a raid on a cannabis farm in Ipele forest led to the arrest of three suspects: Godwin Benson, 30; Muhammed Awwal, 34; and James Timothy, 18, with 122kg of the psychoactive substance recovered.
“In Delta State, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 12th November arrested a 43-year-old woman, Esther Igba, at Alihame, Agbor, Ika South LGA, with 255.670kg of cannabis sativa and 1.5kg of cannabis seeds.
“Earlier on Tuesday 10th November, operatives arrested 25-year-old Aaron Thomas, a.k.a. Ibori, at Oguato, Ughelli South LGA, after trailing him for over six months.
“Described as a major distributor of illicit drugs who operates a notorious bush bar, he was arrested with 360 grams of cannabis; 12.7 litres of codeine syrup; 500 grams of tramadol 100mg; 90 grams of tramadol 200mg; 215 grams of swinol and 135 grams of Molly (MDMA).
“In Osun State, during a farm destruction operation at Owena Forest Reserve, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Eze Chidiebere, 23, and Nwaoge Ugochukwu, 24, with 86kg of cannabis sativa.
“In a related operation in the same forest reserve, a 40-year-old man, Ugwu Chukwuemeka, was arrested with 28kg of dried cannabis and 21kg of fresh cannabis leaves, while his 0.855-hectare cannabis farm, with an estimated 2,137.5kg of the plant, was destroyed.
“After weeks of intense surveillance on illicit drug activities within Benin City metropolis, Edo State, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 10th November raided Jamila Street, Ikpoba Hill, where they arrested a 39-year-old woman, Blessing Chukwudi.
“Recovered from her were 22 compressed parcels of Loud weighing 14kg, 65 grams of Colorado and 73 grams of methamphetamine.
“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.”
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