NDLEA Nabs 108 Marijuana Farmers In Edo State

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) in Edo state has arrested about 108
persons over alleged Indian hemp cultivation and
trafficking, Nigerian Tribune informs.
MArijuana/Cannibis
Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Buba
Wakawa, told NAN on Wednesday that about
2,024.03 kilogrammes of Marijuana was recovered
from the suspects, while 20 acres of farmland were
destroyed along with eight grammes of cocaine
and 19.2 grammes of heroin.
Wakawa said 11 suspects were arrested with 284.5
kilogrammes of marijuana in Ekpoma, Esan West
Local Government Area and Obolo Iuleha in Owan
West Local Government Area in July.
The remaining 97 suspects (70 males and 27
females), were apprehended with 1,939.53
kilogrammes of the plant from July.
According to the NDLEA boss, 18 out of the 20
acres of plantations were found in Toba Forest in
Usen, Ovia South West Local Government Area in
July.
The 2 acres left were found between April and July.
He said 2.1 kilogrammes of other psychotropic
drugs were found with five persons already
convicted and another 10 awaiting sentence
hearings.
He added that 54 persons were sent for
rehabilitation under the Drug Demand and
Reduction programme before being allowed back
into the society.
In mid-June, NDLEA officials in Oyo state
discovered a 24 hectares of Indian hemp plantation
in the state
The plantation was destroyed following a six-hour
joint operation with the Nigeria police, Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of
State Services and the state’s Ministries of Natural
Resources and Forest Reserve.
The plantation was found at Seriki Centre of the
Gambari forest reserve and destroyed.
Regarded as an illicit drug in many countries,
marijuana is outlawed by many governments
including that of Nigeria.
The drug is used by celebrities and high ranking
members of the society mostly for recreation. It is
called Indian hemp, weed, skonk (sk), parole,
knockout by many Nigerians.