By Infactng
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered the largest single concentration of cannabis in a farm in Owan West local government area of Edo state.
The street value of the seizure was estimated at N1.4 billion.
Buba Wakawa, NDLEA commander in Edo, disclosed this on Sunday in Benin, the state capital.
Seven persons alleged to be drug barons operating four large warehouses in Ukpuje forest in Owan West were also arrested.
Wakawa said the four warehouses had a total of 16, 344 bags of cannabis and weeds, weighing 233, 778kg, which were seized in addition to two pump action and one double barrel guns.
The names of the suspected arrested are; Emmanuel Oki, 62, who is the chairman of the vigilante group in Ukpuje; Odi Sabato, 42, and Bright Inemi Edegbe, 53.
Others are Gowon Ehimigbai, 53; Enodi Ode, 37; Ayo Oni, 30 and Akhime Benjamin, 43.
The breakdown of the drugs is given as follows: 318 bags of 80kg each weighing 25,440kg; 15,853 bags of 13kg weighing 206,089kg. However, while the total quantity seized is 2,249kg, others weighing 231,529kg were destroyed inside the warehouses.
Wakama said the successful operation would have been a mirage but for the support of the new NDLEA chairman, General Buba Marwa.
“We took delivery of two new Hilux operational vehicles presented to the command last week.
“This is the first assignment of the vehicles and it turned out to be the best for the command. We are grateful to the chairman, and this is a clear warning that there is no room for drug barons in the state,” he said.
The chairman reacting in a statement on Sunday said there is no hiding place for drug criminals in Nigeria as the ” heat is on.”
Marwa: “I remember I made it clear in my inaugural remarks upon assumption of duty on January 18, while sounding a note of warning to those involved in this illicit trade to either back out or have the NDLEA to contend with because our maxim must and will remain offensive action; to smoke the drug barons and traffickers out of their holes, forests and bunkers,” he said.
