From Suleiman Idris, Lagos
A secondary school student, 18-years old Monday Ogwugwa is among suspects currently cooling off their feet in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for cultivating cannabis plantations valued at N15.8 billion.
The 2,260,800kg hemp farms were discovered on plantations in Arinkinkin forest at Isokan local government area while others were located at Ayedade LGA both in Osun state by the anti-drug law agency.
Ogwugwa, who claimed he lost his parents at a tender age, said he was brought to work on one of the farms from Delta state in order to raise money to register for Senior Secondary School certificate examination.
NDLEA Director of Operations and investigation, Mr. Olugbenga Mabo said “the operation was timely because the farmers had commenced harvesting already. The good news is that both the harvested plants and the fresh plants were destroyed.”
Meanwhile, the agency Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said drug barons must be financially incapacitated and made to face the wrath of the law.
He said, “In this operation alone, we successfully destroyed a total of 2,260,800kg of cannabis. This is a clear indication that cannabis cultivators shall not be allowed to enjoy the proceeds of their criminal drug activities.
Dispossessing drug barons of 15.8 billion naira in a single operation is a highly commendable feat. We shall continue to trace and destroy cannabis farms. The drug barons arrested in connection with the cannabis plantations shall be diligently prosecuted and I expect nothing but maximum punishment”, he said in a statement.
Giade said a criminal act that generates so much money deserves serious attention of stakeholders as Nigeria will continue to win the drug war”.
