The Ogun State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two suspects for allegedly being in possession of 1.8 tonnes of cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.
The suspects, Peter Osaneku, 36 and 24-year-old Friday Samson were arrested at Ayepe in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state in a white Mercedes Benz truck with number plate LSR 987 XH in which the bags of drug were concealed.
Parading the two suspects before journalists in Abeokuta, the NDLEA State Commander, Bala Fagge, said the men were arrested by the agencys operatives conducting surveillance in that part of the state.
Fagge explained that the breakthrough was as a result of the intensive war the agency launched against illicit drug planting and trafficking in the state.
He disclosed that over 60 hectares of farmlands planted with cannabis sativa in different parts of the state had been discovered and destroyed in the last two months.
The Ogun NDLEA commander added that the arrest of the two suspects with the exhibits was an indication that since they were finding it difficult to plant cannabis, they resorted to transporting the drugs that had already been harvested into the state.
He said, “We have gone to many farm to destroy cannabis sativa and now traffickers are trying as much as possible to bring cannabis into Ogun State. We are putting our efforts as well in this direction. This led to the arrest of these suspects with 1, 817 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa in Ayepe area of Ogun State, while trying to move the illegal drugs into Abeokuta”.
Fagge said the command would not relent in the fight against the planting and trafficking of illicit drugs in the state.
On the achievement of the command since the beginning of the year, the state commander of the anti-drug agency said, “222 suspects had been arrested since January, out of which 216 were males and six females with 4, 786.9 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, 100.75 grammes of cocaine and 197 grammes of heroine and four kilogrammes of psychotropic substances.”
He added that the command had secured 84 convictions, filed 16 new charges while 23 cases are pending at the Federal High Court.
Fagge also disclosed that 105 drug users had been successfully counseled and re-united with their families.
He appealed to the state government, traditional institutions, security agencies, the media, families, schools and the general public to support the fight against drug trafficking in the state.
According to the NDLEA commander, the battle against drug abuse and trafficking remains one that must be won through collective efforts.
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