By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted no fewer than 4.8 tonnes of skunk in Imo, Edo, Ondo, Kano, and Ekiti States.
NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja.
Skunk is a generic name given to potent strains of the cannabis plant containing the highest levels of the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
NDLEA’s operatives in Imo State intercepted a Mercedes Benz container truck marked ABN 418 YN parked in an isolated area along Owerri – Onitsha expressway on October 15.
The agency said a search of the abandoned truck led to the recovery of 168 bags of skunk weighing 1, 854 kilograms.
“Not less than 1,381.3kgs of the same substance were seized in four interdiction operations in parts of Edo state.
“This includes Ekpon community, Igueben LGA; Iguiye forest in Ovia North East LGA; Iruekpen, Ndokwa West where a suspect, Samuel Nwocha was arrested and Egwalor village in Onwude LGA.
“Also, the duo of Obune Prince and Chika Obi was arrested and their Audi 80 salon car marked BEN 406 CL loaded with cannabis sativa, recovered, ” he said.
In Kano State, an ex-convict, Mr Aminu Suleiman, 46, was arrested along with Mr Haruna Abdurrahaman, 41, and Mr Joseph Esezobor, 34, at Gadar Tamburawa area of the state on Saturday, October 14 while 106kgs of cannabis were recovered from them.
“Aminu was first arrested with 22kgs of cannabis on 3rd June 2022 and convicted by the Court on 24th November 2022.
“Five other suspects: Inusa Ali, Yahaya Musa, Abba Audu, Ali Abubakar, and Bunu Kyari were also arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Monday, October 16 for dealing in 75.3kgs of skunks,” he said.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Zone J Command of the agency seized 478kgs of cannabis in a forest in Ikere Ekiti on Friday. The statement added that those of Ondo State command also recovered a total of 928kgs of the same substance.
”This was recovered in a bush by Shagari market, along Ifon-Owo express road, and Ibola camp, Ipele forest.”
In Borno, a suspect, Mr Sani Mohammed, 31, was arrested on Saturday with 182kgs of cannabis at Njimtilo, along Maiduguri – Damaturu road.
NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) attached to courier companies on Sunday, October 15, intercepted 1kg methamphetamine concealed in containers of body cream going to New Zealand as well as another consignment of 2.5kgs cocaine and phenacetin hidden in walls of a carton heading to Saudi Arabia.
