The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed a 16-hectare cannabis farm in Ekiti State.
The operation, the NDLEA said, took place between 11 and 13 September in the Ijesha Isu-Ekiti area of Ikole Local Government.
The agency’s operatives destroyed 40 tons (40,000 kilograms) of cannabis plants during the operation.
It said in a statement released by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi via the agency’s website:
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“In a massive operation between Monday 11th and Wednesday 13th September, NDLEA operatives stormed thick forests in Ijesha Isu-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti state, where they destroyed 40 tons (40,000 kilograms) of cannabis plants covering 16 hectares of farmland.”
In another bid to help curb the illegal cultivation and distribution of cannabis in the region, NDLEA operatives on Friday, along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja road intercepted two Sienna buses conveying 1,194 cylinders of nitrous oxide popularly known as laughing gas which weighed 2,547.2 kilograms to be delivered in Abuja.
It said:
“No fewer than 1,194 cylinders of laughing gas with a total weight of 2,547.2 kilograms loaded in two Toyota Sienna buses were on Friday 22nd September intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway. Two suspects: Onyebuchi Ikpozu and Kenneth Igwe who were taking the consignments to the nation’s Federal Capital Territory for distribution have been arrested and taken into custody.
“While one of the Toyota Sienna buses marked KTU 582 HV was conveying 99 cartons containing 594 cylinders weighing 1,267.200kgs, the second bus with registration number FKJ 329 YA was conveying 100 cartons of the substance with 600 cylinders weighing 1,280kgs. A 48-year-old woman, Mrs. Ugo Eluba was also arrested in Abuja in a follow-up operation after 2,400 ampules of pentazocine injection and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 intercepted in Kogi state were traced to her.”
Furthermore, it intercepted a trailer with registration number LSR 343 XW with 959kgs of skunk concealed in Maggi cartons meant for distribution in Sokoto and Abuja.
It also arrested two suspects, Shuaibu Yusif and Abubakar Hussaini for illegal possession of 89.1kgs of skunks in Jigawa.
NDLEA said:
“In the FCT, operatives intercepted 977 kilograms of skunk on Wednesday 20th September in a trailer marked LSR 343 XW, bearing cartons of Maggi. The skunk consignment was loaded into the truck at Ipele junction in Ondo state. While 959kgs of the substance were meant for distribution in Sokoto state, the rest was to be dropped off at Gwagwalada. Two suspects: Auwal Mohammed and Abdullahi Abubakar have been arrested in connection with the seizure, while two other suspects: Mutari Abdulazeez, 31, and Ayuba Madaki, 28, were also arrested on Saturday 23rd September at Zuba area of the FCT with different quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis and 13, 930 pills of tramadol.
“In the same vein, Shuaibu Yusif, 27, and Abubakar Hussaini, 20, were on Saturday 23rd September nabbed with 89.1kgs of skunk along Kano -Hadejia road, Jigawa state during a stop and search patrol by NDLEA operatives.”
