The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 7,500 kilogrammes of cannabis cultivated on three hectares of land in a forest in Ondo State, arresting five suspects in a raid aimed at dismantling illicit drug production networks in the state.
The agency’s Command Media and Advocacy Officer, Adebayo Solomon, who disclosed the this in a statement issued on Sunday said the operation, carried out at Okemoro, Isinbode Camp Forest, followed a credible intelligence on cannabis cultivation in the area.
Those arrested during the raid were identified as Asikpo Ekpeyoung, 43; Solomon Okpani, 22; Ubong Friday, 35; Joseph Friday, 22; and Ekenimi Seth, 35.
According to the NDLEA, operatives also recovered 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh cannabis stems during the operation.
The agency said the recovered exhibits weighed a combined 1,281 kilogrammes, in addition to the 7,500 kilogrammes of cannabis destroyed at the farm.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Owo arrested a 53-year-old suspect, Okunebe Ndidi, after tracking him to his hideout in Ameyinti on Friday, October 16.
The operation led to the recovery of 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes, according to the agency.
Fidelis David
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