NDLEA DESTROYS 30-HECTARE CANNABIS FARM IN CROSS RIVER, SEIZES OVER 6,700KG OF DRUGS
Read Time:1 Minute, 40 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed a 30-hectare cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) plantation located in a forest in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
State Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs. Rachel Umebuali, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Calabar.
She revealed that several suspects were arrested in connection with the illicit farm and expressed concern that some members of the local community were shielding the drug traffickers.
Umebuali further stated that 163.9kg of cannabis sativa seeds were recovered from the plantation.
Between January and June, the command seized a total of 6,716.8kg of illicit substances, she added.
Breaking down the figures, Umebuali said the NDLEA confiscated 2,935kg of cannabis sativa, 129.6kg of methamphetamine, 82.7kg of psychotropic substances, 33.3 litres of cannabis mixture, 47.7kg of cocaine, 32.3kg of heroin, 69.7kg of opioids and barbiturates, and 5 grams of ecstasy.
Additionally, 191 individuals were arrested during the same period.
“15 persons were convicted for various offenses in the period under review,” she said.
According to her, what is worrisome in the findings is that most of these drug peddlers are not indigenes of the state.
“They come here and give money to the locals who protect them by not giving out information of their unholy activities.”
Umebuali said that the command, with the active support of the state first lady, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, successfully concluded this year’s drug day, which has as it theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest In Prevention.”
“We have also continued to carry out various advocacy programmes in various institutions across the state, with the object of reducing the menace of drug abuse in the society.
“Between January and June this year, we carried out 191 sensitisation outings to schools, market places, churches, mosques, non-governmental organisations amongst others,” she said.
Umebuali said that the challenges of the command was underfunding and logistics.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0