NDLEA arrests 3, recovers N51m cannabis
The Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three men and recovered 5,146 kilogramme of weeds suspected to be cannabis in 332 bags.
The state NDLEA commander, Wakawa Buba, who disclosed this yesterday in Benin said the suspects, Ossai Frank, 35, Azuka Ossai, 29, and Emenike Uba, 25, concealed the cannabis in a consignment of processed wood from sawmill in a truck belonging to one of them.
He said the vehicle was intercepted on November 8, by the agency’s operatives along Benin Bye-pass, adding that the arrested suspects are from Delta State.
“A total of 332 bags of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis weighing 5,146kg were found in the truck. The estimated street value of the seized drug is N51.4 million,” he said
He said the suspects, who have confessed to the crime, said the quest for survival made them go into the criminal trade, adding that interim investigation revealed that the truck originated from Owo in Ondo State and was going to Abi in Delta State.
He said efforts are on-going to arrest and prosecute other members of the cartel in accordance with the NDLEA Act while the three suspects would soon be charged to court.
One of the suspects, Ossai Frank, said this was not his first time of conveying cannabis. “I used to carry rice and biscuits but whenever there is cannabis, I also carry so as to get some money to take care of my family,” he said.