CRIME NEWS

Nabbed: NDLEA Arrests 210 Suspects, Seizes 113m Kilograms Of Cannabis In Ondo

By Tope Fayehun

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Ondo State Command, has disclosed that a total of 210 suspects were arrested and about 113,305. 305.844kgs of cannabis sativa seized between January and December this year.
The Command also disclosed that about 21 cannabis farmlands were destroyed during the year, which represented 323 acres with an estimated 1,550.4 tons of destroyed stems of cannabis sativa.
The state commander of the agency, Mohammed Sokoto, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of the command for the year 2015 at the state command’s headquarters in Akure, the state capital.
While giving the breakdown of the activities of the command this year, Sokoto said those arrested include 131 males and 16 females.
According to him, the command was able to counsel 53 suspects and rehabilitate 10 others.
The NDLEA boss noted that the affected farmlands were located and destroyed at different forests in Elekano, Owo, Ogbese, Ifon, Ita-Ogbolu, Idanre, Agodada-Ipele and Ileguta areas of the state.
Sokoto further disclosed that another two suspected drug pushers were also arrested by his men with 500grammes of cocaine in Ondo West local government area of the state.
”Right now, we have a lot of surveillance ongoing in some places where we have pocketed some smokers and users of this cocaine.
“We have arrested two persons in connection and the suspects where arrested in Ondo and the investigation is still going on and, as soon as they are convicted, we will let you know.
“Eleven vehicles and seven motorcycles were seized during the year. These include four trucks, five saloon cars and two lorries.”
He commended the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on the introduction of Cocoa Revolution Initiative Programme as part of ways of tackling planting of cannabis in the state.
According to him, the command had started liaising with Cocoa Merchant Association, Timber Trade Organisation and Timber Concessioners on a plan for them to take over all destroyed cannabis plantations in the government forest reserve areas.
He said the gesture would serve as a stop-gap measure towards gradual eradication of illicit cultivation of cannabis.