NDLEA arrests 11 suspects inOsun

NDLEAOfficials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on
Friday said they arrested 11 suspects and destroyed 2, 317 bags of
cannabis weighing 30,992kgs.The agency's spokesperson, Mr Mitchell
Ofoyeju, stated this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.He also said
that some 67 bags were also transferred to Osun State Command of the
agency as exhibitsfor further investigation.
"The cannabis will also serve as evidence against 11 suspected farmers
arrested during an operation inside the cannabis plantation."The
suspects arrested in connection with the cannabis cultivation are Kofi
Mensah, GodwinMonday, Albert Aniama, Liberty Onyeka and Peter
Nelson."Others are Harrison Ewoka, Ossai Nelson, Sulaiman Niyi,
Dominic Tobechukwu, Mutiu Kolawole and Chucks Oghenekwu."The raid
operation codenamed 'Operation Herb Spring' was in response to an
intelligence receivedby the Agency on the activities of cannabis
cultivators in the forest."The exhibits was estimated to worth three
hundred and nine million naira (N309million)."These exhibits were
found in 27 camps used as storage facilities located within a farmland
at Orita-Ijebu forest reserve, Ikoyi area of Ikire in Ayedade LGA of
Osun State."Drug cartels have invaded government forest reserves for
the cultivation of cannabis," the spokesman said.He also quoted the
Chairman of the agency, Mr Muhammad Abdallah , who said concerted
efforts were needed to stop cannabis cultivation.He said that farmers
should be encouraged to cultivate food and economic crops."Unless the
current trend of cannabis cultivation is addressed, the country is on
the verge of a devastating food insecurity."It is worrisome that the
cartels are using government forest reserves in the cultivation of
cannabis."Stakeholders must strategise on how to increase food
production and prevent criminal organisations from diverting arable
farmland for cannabis cultivation."A situation where food and cash
crops is paving way for cannabis plant portend danger and deserve
urgent attention."The operation was a sweet victory for the agency
because the farmershad done all the work by harvesting and processing
the cannabis awaiting evacuation from the farms."It was a perfect
timing for the Agency and a painful loss to the drug barons."They had
prepared the cannabis in bags waiting for shipment when we raided."The
Agency will continue to launchsimilar devastating attacks on drug
trafficking cartels until they are completely defeated."All suspects
will be arraigned soon," Abdallah said.