30 hectares of a cannabis sativa, or Indian hemp, plantation in a forest in the Odukpani local government area of Cross River have reportedly been destroyed, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
This was said by Mrs. Rachel Umebuali, the state commander of the NDLEA, in a Saturday interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
She expressed concern that the villagers were shielding the drug dealers and added that several suspects were also taken into custody in relation to the damaged plantation.
According to Umebuali, 163.9 kg of cannabis sativa seed were discovered on the crop.
She said that 6,716.8 kg of illicit drugs were seized by the command between January and June.
She provided a breakdown of the numbers, stating that throughout the six months, the NDLEA had confiscated 2935 kg of cannabis sativa.
Other items include 69.7 kg of opioid and babiturate, 5 grammes of ecstasy, 47.7 kg of cocaine, 32.3 kg of heroine, 82.7 kg of psychotropics, 33.3 litres of cannabis combination, and 129.6 kg of methamphetamine.
According to Umebuali, the command also detained 191 people at that time.
“15 persons were convicted for various offenses in the period under review,” she said.
According to her, what is worrisome in the findings, is that most of these drug peddlers are not indigenes of the state.
“They come here and give money to the locals who protect them by not giving out information about their unholy activities.”
Umebuali said the command, with the active support of the state first lady, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, successfully concluded this year’s drug day, which has as its theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest In Prevention.”
“We have also continued to carry out various advocacy programmes in various institutions across the state, with the object of reducing the menace of drug abuse in the society.
“Between January and June this year, we carried out 191 sensitisation outings to schools, market places, churches, mosques, non governmental organisations amongst others,” she said.
Umebuali said the challenges of the command were underfunding and logistics.
