The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has destroyed a 30-hectare cannabis farm hidden in the forest of Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State.
The state NDLEA Commander, Rachel Umebuali, told the News Agency of Nigeria that some suspects were arrested during the operation. She also raised concerns that local people were helping the drug dealers by hiding information from security agents.
Umebuali said the team found 163.9 kilograms of cannabis seeds on the farm. She added that between January and June this year, the agency seized over 6,700 kilograms of illegal drugs in the state.
The seized drugs included 2,935 kg of cannabis sativa, 129.6 kg of methamphetamine, 82.7 kg of psychotropic substances, 47.7 kg of cocaine, 32.3 kg of heroin, and 69.7 kg of opioids and barbiturates. Five grams of ecstasy and 33.3 litres of a cannabis mixture were also recovered.
During the same six-month period, the NDLEA arrested 191 people and secured 15 convictions for different drug-related crimes.
Umebuali said, “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 about their unholy activities.”
She thanked the state’s first lady, Eyoanwan Otu, for supporting the fight against drug abuse. The agency also organised this year’s drug awareness event themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest In Prevention.”
According to her, the command visited schools, markets, churches, mosques, and NGOs 191 times in six months to educate people on the dangers of drug abuse.
Umebuali noted that the biggest challenges facing the command were lack of enough funds and poor logistics.
