NDLEA Destroys Cannabis worth millions Of Naira In Edo

By Lateef Taiwo

The Edo Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday destroyed eight hectares of cannabis sativa farms in the state .

Aljazirah Nigeria reports that the farms, two in number are located in Upokhoten forest, Uzzebba village in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.

Operatives of the command were led on a three hour journey to the farms where the plantations were cut and set ablazed.

Briefing newsmen after the operation, Mr Ondotimi Bebetu, the command’s Assistant Commander in-charge of Operations said the destruction was sequel to an intelligence led surveillance, leading to an arrest of three suspects two weeks ago.

If converted, Bebetu said the two farms were equal to more than 17 tons of cannabis sativa and I’d worth million of naira.

“As you can see this is a very massive farmland. We are here to destroy cannabis farm. Through intelligence led surveillance.

“This destruction is taking place via a follow up activities where some suspects have been arrested two weeks ago.

“So it is a planned thing that we come here today to destroy this massive farm which has been used to cultivate cannabis farm.

“Unfortunately this land ought to have been used for cultivation of food crops

He stated that , there are two farms that has been destroyed here today. The first farm measures 6.28 hectares of space. When you convert to tons, it equals to 15.69 tons.

According to him, the second farm that is the same proximity measuring 0.68 hectares. It is equal to 1.7 tons. When you sum up the two together, you arrive at 17.4 tons of cannabis destroyed right now.

He further said, We are using this opportunity to tell the public to give information on how to get to these farmlands. It is them, their youth that are exposed to the health risk of the cannabis production which they consume every day,” he said.

The NDLEA boss noted that the arrested suspects would be handed over to the legal unit whenever discreet investigation into the matter was concluded.

The unit, he said, would advise whether to prosecute them or otherwise.

Bebetu said the real owners are always big time barons. We hardly can really get them. They bring these boys to the farm to establish the farm.

“Sometimes they are in abroad, but they just keep monitoring. Even if they mention their names, it is fake. Sometimes, we get them through our surveillance intelligence and bring them to book,” said the assistant command.

Also speaking, Mr. James Olarewaju, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Intelligence said credible intelligence led to the action taken at the farm.

Olarewaju expressed dismay that Edo is a spotlight for cannabis plantations and it had become a year-round farming in the axis.

He said the command was determined to cut the supply chain of the substance through farm destruction as against burning energy on those selling in sales of piecemeal

One of the suspects arrested on the farm, Monday Nduul from Benue said he was a “job man” brought into the farm to help in weeding.

He said he only have N7000 when he was arrested and had not fore knowledge that he was coming to cannabis farm.