NDLEA arrests 2 suspects with N20m hemp

The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspected drug traffickers over alleged possession of cannabis worth N20 million.

State NDLEA Commander, Wakawa Buba, said the dried weed weighing 1,996kg was discovered in a warehouse located in Ugbubezi forest in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.

He said the suspects, Augustine Egwutu, 45 and Gabriel Orji, 38, both from Delta State were members of a cannabis cartel working at the warehouse.

“The cannabis was part of last year’s harvest by the cannabis cartel operating in the area. The dried weed was compressed in 34 bags weighing 680 kilogramme and 94 bags weighing 1,316 kilogramme, all weighing 1,996 kilogrammes,” he said.

Buba, who described the seizure as a breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking in the state, said they were able to discover the warehouse based on intelligence report.

“We are poised for a total offensive against drug trafficking cartels in the state. We have spread our dragnet to apprehend other members of the cartel who are at large,” he said

The suspects who claimed to be farmers, however, blamed their involvement in drug trafficking on poverty.

Egwutu said he used to cultivate plantain and pepper but the farms were destroyed by wildfire; while Orji, who claimed to be a cassava and plantain farmer, said he joined the cannabis business because he needed multiple sources of income.