The Ondo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1,292 kilograms of cannabis sativa and arrested nine suspects.
The state Commander of the agency, Haruna Gagara, who announced the drug haul in a statement on Friday, said 711.5kg of cannabis seeds was recovered from a forest in Ago Oyibo area of Ogbese, Akure North Local Government Area of the state.
According to Gagara, the confiscation has “thwarted the mass cultivation of an estimated 250 hectares of cannabis sativa farmland in Ondo State.
“This humongous cultivation, if allowed, would produce an estimated 443,000 kilograms of cannabis.”
He said his men stormed the forest on Thursday, February 18, 2021 following intelligence.
Some of the suspects arrested in connection to the seizure include Alex Moses, 35; Oshie Emmanuel, 20; Friday Effiong, 31; Emmanuel Akpan, 25, and David Friday, 19.
The commander also said his operatives had earlier intercepted a vehicle loaded with 580.5kg of the illicit drug along Ogbese-Owo road.
“The consignment was to be smuggled to Kano State. If it had not been intercepted, it may further fuel the current insecurity and banditry being experienced in the North-West region of Nigeria,” he stated.
Gagara appreciated the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) for motivating officers to always go on the offensive against illicit drug traffickers and dealers.
He said furthermore: “Let me seize this opportunity to warn those who indulge in the illicit cultivation and trafficking of cannabis sativa in the state to desist from doing so.
“There will be no hiding place for them because the Command is poised to fish them out.”
