The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed a 30-hectare cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) plantation located deep within a forest in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Speaking during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Calabar, the NDLEA State Commander, Mrs. Rachel Umebuali, revealed that some suspects were arrested in connection with the illicit farm. She expressed concern that some local residents were shielding the drug traffickers, thereby obstructing enforcement efforts.
Umebuali said that 163.9 kilograms of cannabis seeds were recovered from the plantation. Between January and June, the command seized a total of 6,716.8 kilograms of illicit drugs. She noted that this included 2,935kg of cannabis sativa, 129.6kg of methamphetamine, 82.7kg of psychotropic substances, 33.3 litres of cannabis mixture, 47.7kg of cocaine, 32.3kg of heroin, 69.7kg of opioids and barbiturates, and 5 grams of ecstasy.
The command also arrested 191 individuals during this period, and 15 of them were convicted for various drug-related offenses. Umebuali expressed worry that most of the arrested drug peddlers were non-indigenes who were being protected by locals in exchange for money.
She stated that the NDLEA, with strong support from the Cross River State First Lady, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, successfully marked this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest In Prevention.”
According to her, the command has been actively engaged in advocacy, carrying out 191 sensitisation campaigns across schools, markets, religious centres, and among non-governmental organisations between January and June this year.
Umebuali concluded by highlighting underfunding and logistics as major challenges facing the command in its fight against drug abuse and trafficking.