The Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) says it has destroyed a 30-hectare hashish sativa (Indian hemp) plantation situated in a forest within the Odukpani Native Authorities Space of Cross River State.
State Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs. Rachel Umebuali, disclosed this throughout an interview with the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Calabar.
In response to her, some suspects have been arrested in reference to the illicit plantation.
She additionally expressed concern over the help drug traffickers have been receiving from members of the area people, who she mentioned have been shielding the culprits from legislation enforcement.
Umebuali said that 163.9kg of hashish sativa seeds have been recovered from the destroyed plantation.
She added that between January and June, the command seized a complete of 6,716.8kg of varied illicit medication.
In response to her, this included 2,935kg of hashish sativa seized throughout the six-month interval, alongside vital portions of methamphetamine, psychotropic substances, hashish mixtures, cocaine, heroin, opioids, barbiturates, and ecstasy.
She additional disclosed that 191 individuals have been arrested in reference to drug-related offenses throughout the interval, whereas 15 people have been convicted for numerous crimes.
In response to her, what’s worrisome within the findings is that almost all of those drug peddlers aren’t indigenes of the state.
“They arrive right here and provides cash to the locals who defend them by not giving out details about their unholy actions.”
Umebuali mentioned that the command, with the energetic help of the state first woman, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, efficiently concluded this yr’s drug day, which has as its theme: “The Proof is Clear: Make investments In Prevention.”
“We now have additionally continued to hold out numerous advocacy programmes in numerous establishments throughout the state, with the target of lowering the menace of drug abuse in society.
“Between January and June this yr, we carried out 191 sensitization outings to varsities, marketplaces, church buildings, mosques, non-governmental organizations amongst others,” she mentioned.
Umebuali mentioned that the challenges of the command have been underfunding and logistics.
Nairametrics earlier reported that the Nationwide Drug Legislation Enforcement Company (NDLEA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Schooling, revealed alarming statistics on youth drug use in Lagos State.
In response to a 2024 research carried out by each companies, 13.6% of secondary college college students have experimented with medication, whereas 6.9% are at the moment utilizing them.
In response to the rising concern over substance abuse amongst youths and different susceptible teams, the Lagos State Ministry of Well being led a high-impact consciousness marketing campaign on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
