The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has
stated that it had cleared over 4,000 hectares of land used to plant
Indian hemp in Ogotun Ekiti in Ekiti state.
The state commander of the NDLEA, Mr Sulaiman Jadi disclosed
this when he led other officers of the command on the operations to the
area.
The NDLEA operatives also destroyed 100 bags of cannabis already packed in sacks for transportation to customers.
The over 4,000 hectares of the farm land located about 25kms from the
town was cultivated in the midst of a thick forest, aside from the over
100 bags of harvested cannabis that were destroyed, the officers also
kept hold of some growing ones.
Speaking during the operation, the commander frowned at the attitude
of the Indian hemp dealers, who had turned the state to a haven for
criminals.
The NDLEA boss however appealed to the state government and relevant
stakeholders to assist the command with necessary logistics that can
enhance is fight against cannabis cultivation in the state.
Sulaiman explained that the current manual method in which officers
of the agency made use of cutlasses and their hand to destroy illicit
plant was stressful and time consuming, hence, the need for provision of
tractors.
The commander also stressed the need for provision of vehicles,
specialized in plying forest roads as most time officers had to trek a
distance of several hours before getting to some farm locations, as the
roads are not suitable for normal vehicles.
He however caution family members and land owners against giving out
their land to ‘foreigners’, who use them for cannabis cultivation due to
financial gratification.
The NDLEA boss advised members of the public to join hands with the agency to sanitize the state of drug business.

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