Grace Adeleke
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have destroyed two cannabis plantations with an estimated yield of 4,628.98 kilogrammes and arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers in separate operations across Edo State.
The operations, carried out following intelligence on illicit drug activities, targeted cannabis farms and identified drug flashpoints in Orhionmwon, Ovia North-East and Oredo Local Government Areas of the state.
The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Ofoyeju said the two cannabis plantations, located at Ugboku, Igbanke Forest, in Orhionmwon LGA, covered a combined 1.85 hectares.
According to him, one of the farms measured 0.70 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26kg of cannabis, while the second covered 1.15 hectares with an estimated yield of 2,879.72kg.
He said operatives also recovered two bags containing 12.4kg of processed cannabis from the second plantation.
A 40-year-old suspect, identified as Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the first plantation, the commander added.
Ofoyeju said the operation was part of the renewed offensive against illicit drug production and trafficking in the state, in line with the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.).
In another operation at Oluku, Ovia North-East LGA, operatives arrested a 28-year-old suspect, Kingsley Anigala, on August 14.
Anigala, who was said to be from Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, was allegedly found in possession of 25.857kg of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.
The agency also raided Abuja Quarters in Benin City on August 13, an area described by the NDLEA as a drug flashpoint.
Nine suspects were arrested during the raid.
They were identified as Usman Adamu, 20; Abdullahi Adamu, 25; Nasiru Yahaya, 29; Yunusa Musa, 28; Musa Shehu, 25; Kabiru Salisu, 28; Adamu Zakaria, 26; Andulrasheed Sani, 35; and Peter Hycent, 35.
The commander said the suspects were from Nassarawa, Katsina, Kano and Benue states, among others.
According to him, Usman Adamu was arrested with 47 grammes of Loud and 160 grammes of cannabis sativa, while Abdullahi Adamu allegedly possessed 107 grammes of Loud, 2.1 grammes of Swinol and 0.1 grammes of Danabol.
Yahaya was allegedly found with 226 grammes of cannabis sativa.
The other suspects were allegedly found with a combined quantity of 1.3kg of cannabis sativa, 3kg of Loud, 301 grammes of 100mg Tramadol, 19 grammes of 225mg Tramadol, 47 grammes of Diazepam, 5 grammes of Swinol, 8 grammes of Danabol and 3 grammes of methamphetamine.
Ofoyeju said all the suspects had been taken into custody, while investigations were ongoing preparatory to their prosecution.
The latest operations highlight the continued challenge posed by illicit cannabis cultivation and drug trafficking in Edo, with the NDLEA intensifying raids on plantations and locations identified as drug distribution points.
The agency said its operations would continue as part of efforts to dismantle illicit drug production networks and prevent the circulation of narcotic and controlled substances in the state.
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